Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, while reviewing the Agriculture and Horticulture Department in the Secretariat on Tuesday, directed the officials to make effective efforts to further increase the economy of the farmers in the state. It should be ensured that the farmers get the benefit of various schemes as a package. Programs should be organized at the state and district level so that the farmers get the full benefit of various schemes being run by the Central and State Government in the interest of the farmers.
The Chief Minister directed the officials in the meeting to expedite the construction of polyhouses. He said that the polyhouse scheme would prove to be helpful in increasing the income of farmers and promoting self-employment, the responsibility of the officers who delay in their construction will be fixed. The Chief Minister said that polyhouses should be constructed in the state according to the target set for each year.
The Chief Minister said that farmers should be benefited from the Agricultural Mechanization Scheme. Under this scheme, subsidy of up to 80 percent is being given on many agricultural equipment. The Chief Minister gave instructions to connect farmers with the Farm Machinery Bank Scheme at a fast pace. He said that all the Gram Panchayats should be linked with the Farm Machinery Bank Scheme. The Chief Minister said that more effective efforts are needed to promote millet in the state. He said that to promote millet production, an action plan should be made every year to increase productivity along with increasing the agricultural area. Special attention should be paid to the value addition of the products. The Chief Minister also gave instructions to further promote natural farming in the state.
The Chief Minister directed that work should be done rapidly under the Apple and Kiwi Mission in the state. He said that along with the increase in the production of apples, special attention should also be paid towards packaging and marketing. He said that the increase in apple and kiwi production will prove to be a game changer in increasing the economy of the farmers in the state. The Chief Minister said that there are many possibilities in the field of aroma in the state. The aromatic sector can prove to be very effective in increasing the income of farmers. He said that farmers should be motivated more and more for aromatic farming.
In the meeting, it was informed through presentation that to increase the economy of women, so far 28 women have been linked with Namo Drone Didi Yojana, this year 280 women will be linked with this scheme. Under the State Millet Mission Policy, currently 01 thousand women groups have been formed, the target has been set to increase the number of these groups to 03 thousand by 2025. Under the National Rural Livelihood Mission, 05 thousand women farmers are being provided organic farming training for self-employment. Participation of women is also being increased in the field of tea production and aromatic agriculture and processing.
To make the life of the common man easier, special attention is being given to e-facility in the field of agriculture and horticulture. Many innovations are being done in the field of agriculture and horticulture in the state. ‘Timru the Uttarakhand’ perfume has been launched in the state, which was also appreciated by the Prime Minister. Natural farming is being promoted in the state. The annual calendar of agriculture and horticulture has also been released. A target has been set to build 23342 polyhouses in the state by 2027. So far 8500 polyhouses have been built.
Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi, Vice President Infrastructure Monitoring Council Vishwas Dabur, Chief Secretary Radha Raturi, Additional Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Principal Secretary R.K. Sudhanshu, Secretary S.N. Pandey, Additional Secretary Ranveer Singh Chauhan, Anand Swaroop, Deepti Singh, Director Aromatic Plant Center Nripendra Chauhan and related officials were present in the meeting.
