Thursday, 23 February 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Aromatic Farming lucrative for farmers: Dhami
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said that the climate of Uttarakhand is conducive for cultivation of Timru and Cinnamon and the State government has decided to take up Mission Timru and Mission Cinnamon. These projects would create new employment opportunities and help in increasing the income of the farmers in mountainous areas of the State. He was addressing a programme after inaugurating the Centre for excellence on Aromatic crops at the Centre for Aromatic Plants (CAP) at Selaqui here on Wednesday.
He said that the centre would be further developed into an institute and for this an act would be brought. He said that the centre is working in the direction of production of quality aromatic plants in the State. The CM said that there are many challenges in traditional agriculture and due to the factors such as damage to the crops by the wild animals, geographical conditions and dependence on the rains the interest of the farmers towards traditional farming is decreasing. In view of these challenges and increasing demands of aromatic plants, the centre for aromatic plants was set up in the State. He added that the centre of excellence has been set to meet the demands of the farmers.
The CM said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi the State is focusing on the development as per the conditions by striking a balance between the economy and the environment. The CM added that use of science and technology is yielding good results in every sector and continuous efforts are needed for using science and technology in increasing the income of farmers. He added that collective efforts are needed to make Uttarakhand a leading State in the country by the year 2025.
Speaking on the occasion the agriculture minister Ganesh Joshi said that the farmers are getting good income by planting aromatic plants and efforts of the CAP in this direction. He said that seven aroma valleys; Lemongrass and mint valley in Haridwar, Cinnamon valleys in Nainital and Champawat, Damascus rose valleys in Chamoli and Almora, mint valley in Udham Singh Nagar, Timru valley in Pithoragarh and lemongrass valley in Pauri are being developed in the State. The minister added that high tech nurseries would also be developed in the State. The local MLA Sahdev Singh Pundeer, Vikasnagar MLA Munna Singh Chauhan, president of women wing of the State BJP Asha Nautiyal, director CAP Nripendra Chauhan, director general Uttarakhand State council for Science and Technology (UCOST) Durgesh Pant and others were present on the occasion.
