Dehradun: Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday reviewed the central schemes of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department at the Chief Minister’s residence Dehradun with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Uttarakhand Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi, Vice President of State Disaster Management Advisory Committee Vinay Rohila were also present in the meeting.
Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that 2 thousand teams of scientists are being formed to ensure the reach of scientists to the farmers. Teams of scientists will go to every district of the country and provide information about increasing production according to the geographical conditions there, connecting farmers with modern farming and technology, various dimensions related to agriculture and horticulture. He said that good work is being done in Uttarakhand in the field of agriculture and rural development. The area of agriculture has decreased in the state, but production has increased. He said that work should be done on a long-term action plan in the field of agriculture in the state, along with this, a proposal should be sent for the expectations from the Government of India for the work to be done in the field of agriculture in the state immediately.
Proposal sought in a phased manner for Gherbari Yojana
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami requested the Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister for cooperation for various activities related to agriculture and horticulture. On the demand of about Rs 1 thousand 53 crore for Gherbari for protection from wild animals in the state, the Union Agriculture Minister said that proposals should be sent for this in a phased manner. On the demand of Rs 400 crore for the establishment of 1 thousand Farm Machinery Banks to promote agricultural mechanization, he said that after spending the amount of the first phase, the amount will be given in the second phase. He assured cooperation to make the State Seed Production Institute a pulses, oilseeds and seed hub. On seeking assistance of Rs 1150 crore for very intensive horticulture of apple in the state, the Union Minister said that a proposal for its annual action plan should be made and sent.
Support will also be available in Kiwi Mission
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that Jhangora is the main traditional crop in the state, which is being produced in an area of 38 thousand hectares, so in the interest of farmers, minimum support price should be declared for Jhangora on the lines of Mandua. On this, the Union Minister assured to consider it positively. The Union Minister said that under the Kiwi Mission, support will be given to set up a Center of Excellence in the state. He also assured full cooperation for the Center of Excellence for honey, mushroom and exotic vegetables. When cooperation was sought for Dragon Fruit Mission and Himalayan Academy for Capacity Building and Rural Enterprises for Agri and Allied, he assured all possible cooperation. The Union Agriculture Minister said that all the works sought from the state in the meeting will be taken forward rapidly. He appreciated the efforts made by the state government to promote organic products. He said that special attention should be paid to marketing along with branding of organic products. House of Himalayas should get global encouragement
While reviewing the rural development schemes, the Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to give recognition to House of Himalayas Limited for taking it from rural to global level. He requested for GI tagging of House of Himalayas and support for empowering the women self-help groups associated with it and creation of Himalayan Rural Bank and premium supply chain development. The Union Minister said that all these initiatives of the state government are very important. To take these initiatives to the national level, a team of Agriculture and Rural Development Department from the Centre will come and work with the state to make a detailed plan.
Advocacy for increasing MNREGA wages
The Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to increase the wage rate under MNREGA. The Union Minister said that action should be taken by considering all aspects at the national level for increasing the wage rate. He demanded that the grant amount for housing construction under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin should be increased from Rs 1 lakh 30 thousand to Rs 2 lakh. He said that transportation cost is high in the remote areas of the state. The Union Minister assured to take action on this keeping in mind the difficult geographical conditions of the Himalayan states. On the request for approval for more than 100 projects of 600 km length for the fourth phase of PMGSY, he said that its approval will be given soon.
Chief Secretary Anand Vardhan, Principal Secretary R. Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretary Mrs. Radhika Jha, Chandresh Yadav, S.N. Pandey, Ranveer Singh Chauhan, Vice Chancellor Pantnagar University Dr. Manmohan Singh Chauhan, Vice Chancellor of Bharsar University Dr. Pramod Kaushal, Additional Secretary R. Anand from Government of India, Joint Secretary Amit Shukla and concerned officials were present in the meeting.
