PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun The personnel of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) deployed in Uttarakhand will get fresh fruits and vegetables grown by local farmers. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard was signed between the ITBP and the Uttarakhand Horticulture Council (UHC) at the residence of the chief minister on Wednesday. The MoU was inked under the Vibrant Village Programme of the government of India. Under the arrangement the UHC will supply local products to remote and border posts of ITBP located in Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh, Champawat and Dehradun. Speaking on the occasion, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the signing of the MoU is an important step towards the overall development of the farmers, local producers and border areas of the State. He said that through this agreement, the supply of fresh fruits and vegetables will be ensured locally to the ITBP personnel deployed in the State. “The MoU will ensure quality and nutritious food for our soldiers, while ensuring fair prices for their produce for the State’s farmers,’’ he said. Dhami added that the initiative will also strengthen the State government’s resolve to promote local products and provide farmers with a strong and sustainable platform to market their produce. He said that the agreement will help strengthen the economic condition of farmers in border areas and will also relieve them of the difficulties they face in accessing markets. He stated that the State government is fully committed to protecting the interests of farmers and the welfare of our soldiers. It is worth mentioning here that under the Vibrant Village Programme, an agreement was previously signed between the Uttarakhand government and the ITBP for the purchase of local products. Under the agreement the ITBP has so far purchased local products worth Rs 14.7 crore , and efforts are underway to further increase this amount. The ITBP also purchases 25 per cent of Uttarakhand’s annual demand for fruits and vegetables, generating approximately Rs six crore in income for local farmers. Cabinet minister Ganesh Joshi, secretary SN Pandey, IG ITBP Manu Maharaj, additional secretary Anand Srivastava, director Horticulture SL Semwal and others were present on the occasion.
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