my uttarakhand news Bureau
PANTNAGAR (Udham Singh Nagar), 14 Mar: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the 119th All India Farmers’ Fair and Agricultural Industry Exhibition at Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT) in Pantnagar on Saturday. He also honoured progressive farmers and also released university publications.
Addressing the gathering on this occasion, Dhami said it is a matter of great satisfaction that the 119th edition of the agricultural fair is being organised at Pantnagar University. He noted that such fairs are extremely important for farmers as they provide opportunities to learn about innovations in agriculture and enable direct interaction with agricultural scientists and experts.
The Chief Minister said that farmers are the true providers of food and the real heroes of the nation. He observed that it is because of the hard work and dedication of farmers that the country receives food and continues to progress. Referring to the vision of a developed India, Dhami said farmers have a crucial role to play in achieving that goal, as the development of villages, regions and the country depends largely on their efforts and commitment.
Dhami reminded that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, more than 10 crore farmers across the country are receiving benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi. He noted that the PM had released the 22nd instalment of the scheme on Friday and that more than nine lakh farmers in Uttarakhand are benefiting from it. He further informed that the Centre has released the first instalment of Rs 25 crore to the State for fencing measures to protect crops from wild animals.
The Chief Minister said the Union Government has been continuously working to improve the lives of farmers. He pointed out that farmers are being empowered through several schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Soil Health Card Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana, horticulture development schemes, agricultural equipment subsidy schemes and micro-irrigation initiatives such as the “Per Drop More Crop” programme. Keeping farmers’ interests in mind, the credit limit under the Kisan Credit Card scheme has also been increased from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.
Dhami further stated that the Government of India has launched seven new projects for farmers with an estimated cost of Rs 14,000 crore. At the state level, the Uttarakhand government is providing interest-free loans of up to Rs 3 lakh to farmers. He added that a provision of Rs 200 crore has been made to promote polyhouses in the State in order to increase farmers’ income, and so far 350 polyhouses have been established at a cost of Rs 115 crore.
Dhami also noted that Uttarakhand has diverse geographical conditions and therefore schemes are being implemented according to the specific requirements of different regions. He said a new apple policy has been introduced with an outlay of Rs 1,200 crore and several farmer-friendly policies have been implemented in which up to 80 per cent State assistance is being provided. He also informed that seven Aroma Valleys are being developed in the state and that dragon fruit cultivation is being promoted in view of the growing demand for the fruit.
Dhami said that fruit production in the state has increased by about 2.5 per cent, while mushroom production has reached 27,000 metric tonnes, placing Uttarakhand fifth in the country in mushroom production. He added that the State has immense potential in beekeeping and honey production, with the current output reaching about 3,300 metric tonnes, which has brought Uttarakhand to the eighth position nationally.
Referring to the recently concluded budget session, the Chief Minister said that a budget of about Rs 1.11 lakh crores has been passed, with significant allocations made for agriculture, horticulture, aromatic farming, fisheries, beekeeping and research. He said the double-engine government has always placed the interests of farmers at the highest priority and assured that the government would continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with them. Dhami also appealed to farmers to remain aware and adopt modern agricultural technologies so that they can derive greater benefits.
Earlier, Vice-Chancellor of the university, Dr Manmohan Singh Chauhan welcomed the guests on behalf of the university community and the farmers. He said it was a matter of pride for the institution to host the 119th agricultural fair and informed that more than 350 stalls have been set up at the event. According to him, nearly 20,000 people are participating in the fair every day. He also provided detailed information about the activities and initiatives being undertaken by the university.
Among those present on the occasion included District Panchayat Chairman Ajay Maurya, MLA Tilak Raj Behar, Mayor Vikas Sharma, Lal Batti holder Anil Kapoor Dabbu, Farzana Begum, former MLA Rajesh Shukla, Rajesh Kumar, District Magistrate Nitin Singh Bhadauria, SSP Ajay Ganpati and others.
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