Rs. 2000 crore to be spent on strengthening Agriculture and Horticulture sectors: Sukhu

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that the state government was committed to boost the rural economy by strengthening the agriculture and horticulture sectors. He said that an amount of Rs. 2,000 crore would be spent during the present financial year for this purpose.

He was presiding over a meeting with the senior officials of departments of Agriculture, Horticulture and other allied sectors, here today. He said that the state government was working to develop most favourable infrastructure for the processing and marketing of agricultural and horticultural produce.  He said that in alignment with this vision, innovative measures were also being undertaken with a positive outlook to enhance the dairy sector.

Shri Sukhu emphasized the significant contribution of livestock in strengthening the rural economy. He said that the state government launched the ‘Him Ganga Yojana’ on a pilot basis in the districts of Hamirpur and Kangra. Apart from this, Milkfed had established 120 automated and 32 digital milk collection units in the districts of Mandi, Kullu and Shimla.

The Chief Minister further said that with a view to promote natural farming, the government had fixed the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of turmeric, wheat and maize produced under natural farming at Rs. 90, Rs. 60, and Rs. 40 per kilogram respectively for this financial year. The government also aims to bring one lakh new farmers under natural farming this year, and all such farmers would be linked with the ‘Him Parivar Register’.

Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar, Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi, MLA Ashish Butail, Chairman, Milkfed Bhdhi Singh Thakur, Secretary, Animal Husbandry Ritesh Chauhan, Managing Director, Milkfed Vikas Sood and other senior officers were present in the meeting.