Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 3 Nov: With the objective of promoting apple production in the state and equipping farmers with modern horticultural techniques, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ganesh Joshi on Tuesday flagged off a group of 28 farmers from various rural areas of Dehradun district for a five-day training programme in Himachal Pradesh. The Minister flagged off the group from his camp office at Hathibarkala. The farmers will receive training at Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan.
On the occasion, Minister Joshi said that during the training programme, farmers would gain knowledge of modern and advanced techniques of apple cultivation, including pruning, fruit sapling plantation, fertiliser management, organic manure, budding and grafting, as well as fruit packaging and marketing. He said that after completing the training, farmers would not only benefit from these techniques in their own orchards but would also create awareness among other farmers about modern horticultural practices. This would lead to a qualitative improvement in apple production and productivity in the state and enhance farmers’ income.
The Agriculture Minister said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the state government is promoting cluster-based farming and high-value crops to strengthen the rural economy and check migration from the hill regions. A High-Density Apple Plantation Scheme is being implemented in the state at a cost of Rs 808.79 crore, with a target of developing apple orchards across 5,000 hectares. Under this scheme, farmers are being provided subsidies of up to 60 per cent.
He further stated that, under the Post-Harvest Management Scheme for Apples, CA storage facilities and sorting and grading units are being established at a cost of Rs 144.55 crore, with provisions for subsidies ranging from 50 to 70 per cent. In addition, under the Modern Apple Nursery Scheme, an investment of Rs 80 crore has been earmarked, with a target of establishing nurseries across 400 acres.
Minister Joshi said that high-density apple cultivation would generate new employment opportunities in the hill regions and help curb migration. He emphasised that providing farmers with training in modern agricultural and horticultural techniques is essential to making them self-reliant. With this objective, farmers will be selected periodically through District Plan and State Sector schemes and sent for training programmes both within and outside the state.
He added that farmers would also receive training in other promising sectors, including kiwi cultivation and beekeeping, to further strengthen their income and economic condition.
The Minister reiterated that through these initiatives, the state government is working to increase apple production and productivity while connecting farmers with modern technologies to enhance their income. He said that high-density apple cultivation would play a significant role in creating new employment opportunities in the hill regions and preventing migration.
Among those present on the occasion were government office-bearers Jyoti Kotiya and Sandhya Thapa, Chief Horticulture Officer Dr D.K. Tiwari, and several farmers.
