PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan at Guniyalgaon, Vikasnagar, Dehradun on Thursday. In the campaign, agricultural scientists and officials will interact with farmers in all the 95 development blocks, 670 Nyay Panchayats and 11,440 villages of the State.
Speaking on the occasion, the CM said that the farmers will be given information about advanced agricultural techniques according to their land, climate and need during the campaign. Information about schemes like agriculture, animal husbandry, horticulture will also be provided in the campaign.
He said that under the campaign, more than 2,000 teams of scientists will communicate with 1.5 crore farmers in more than 700 districts across the country from May 29 to June 12. Dhami said that three teams have been formed in each district of the state for the campaign and they will organize programmes at three places every day.
Dhami said that the experiences, traditional knowledge, innovations and suggestions of farmers will also be compiled, which will make scientific research more practical in future. He claimed that the campaign will prove to be a milestone in taking the agriculture sector of the State to new heights through modernity and innovation.
The CM said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is moving rapidly towards becoming a developed nation and efforts are being made by the government to double the income of the farmers.
The CM said that the State government is providing interest-free loans up to Rs three lakh to the farmers. Upto 80 per cent subsidy is being provided for purchasing agricultural equipment to the farmers, under the farm machinery bank scheme. He said that the farmers are being given a bonus of Rs 20 per quintal on the purchase of the wheat purchase and the State government has increased the rate of sugarcane by Rs 20 per quintal. Irrigation through the canal has been made absolutely free for the farmers in the State.
Dhami said that tea gardens at Dhauladevi, Munsiyari and Betalghat are being converted into organic tea gardens. Similarly six aroma valleys are being developed in the State. He said that a provision of Rs 200 crore has been made especially for the construction of polyhouses. To increase rain-fed farming in mountainous areas, Uttarakhand climate responsive rain fed farming project has also been approved at a cost of about Rs 1,000 crore. He said that recently, the State government has introduced and implemented schemes such as apple policy, kiwi policy, State millet mission and dragon fruit policy.
Speaking on the occasion, the Agriculture minister Ganesh Joshi said that ‘Vishakt Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan’ is an important step towards fulfilling the goal of developed India by Prime Minister Modi. He said that the presence of prestigious agricultural institutions in Uttarakhand will make this campaign even more effective.
