Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan holds press conference in Mussoorie
By Sunil Sonker
Mussoorie, 1 Mar: Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a detailed press conference in Mussoorie on Sunday and released data on the progress of the agriculture and horticulture sectors in the country and Uttarakhand. He stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the central government is continuously making improvements to increase farmers’ income and modernise agriculture.
The Minister stated that according to the final estimate for 2024-25, the country’s total horticulture production was approximately 3707.38 lakh tons, a 4.51 percent increase compared to the previous year. The horticulture acreage has increased to 301.36 lakh hectares. The first advance estimate for 2025-26 is expected to reach 3708.46 lakh tons, indicating stable and sustained growth in the sector. He added that fruit production has reached 1176.49 lakh tons. Banana production is estimated to be approximately 383.22 lakh tons and mango production to be 231.43 lakh tons. Vegetable production is projected to reach 2177.97 lakh tons, with crops such as onion, potato, green pepper, cauliflower, and okra experiencing significant growth. Tomato production is projected to increase by more than 10 percent in 2025-26. Spice production is projected to reach 129.93 lakh tons. Production of garlic, ginger, cumin, and turmeric has also increased. Flower and medicinal crops have also seen a significant increase.
Speaking specifically on Uttarakhand, the Minister said that according to the Third Advance Estimate for 2024-25, horticultural crops are being cultivated in approximately 1.58 lakh hectares of area in the state, and total production has reached more than 10.33 lakh metric tons. Fruit production was recorded at 3.60 lakh metric tons and vegetable production at 5.94 lakh metric tons. He said that the central government aims to make Uttarakhand a hub for high-value crops, natural farming, honey production, and export-oriented horticulture.
The Union Minister stated that the Seed Act and the Pesticide Act will soon be introduced in Parliament. These laws will strengthen the system for providing certified seeds and quality pesticides to farmers. Fines ranging from 20 lakh to 50 lakh rupees will be imposed against those who supply substandard seeds or poor-quality pesticides. He stated that poor-quality seeds destroy crops and cause huge losses to farmers. Strict legal action will now be ensured in such cases.
The Minister stated that the Agriculture Department is developing an artificial intelligence-based system under the ‘Bharat Vistaar’ program, which will provide farmers with information on weather, seeds, markets, technology, and schemes on a single platform.
During the press conference, the minister targeted Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, saying that he is unable to see the country’s progress. He alleged that schemes were enacted during the Congress regime, but their benefits did not reach the farmers. He said that criticism is welcome in a democracy, but baseless statements and criticizing the country abroad are not appropriate. The minister said that the Leader of the Opposition has a certain dignity and that healthy dialogue is essential in politics.
Regarding the clean chit given to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the alleged liquor scam, the minister said that it is a matter for the institutions and they will decide on it.
Before the press conference, Shivraj Singh Chouhan along with his family visited Atal Udyan in Mussoorie, where he paid floral tribute to the statue of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and enjoyed the natural beauty. BJP workers including Mandal President Rajat Agarwal were present on the occasion. Overall, the Union Minister’s message from Mussoorie was clear: the agriculture and horticulture sector is being given a new direction through technology, reforms, and stringent laws to ensure a substantial increase in farmers’ income. Present on the occasion were Mussoorie BJP Mandal President Rajat Agarwal, Ramesh Khaduri, Vijay Vindwal, Vijay Ramola, Sachin Pawar, Arun Chainaliya, and many others.
