Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 15 Jul: On the eve of the Harela Festival, a symbol of Uttarakhand’s rich environmental and cultural heritage, Uttarakhand’s Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Ganesh Joshi, participated in a free fruit sapling distribution programme organised by the Horticulture Department at his camp office, here, today. A large number of farmers and citizens attended the event. Free saplings of mango, litchi, guava, lemon, pomegranate, jackfruit, along with aromatic and medicinal plant species, were distributed on the occasion.
Extending his greetings to the people of the state on the Harela Festival, Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi said that Harela is not only a symbol of Uttarakhand’s cultural identity but also represents environmental conservation. He stated that the festival reminds everyone of their responsibility towards nature. Merely planting trees is not enough; protecting and nurturing the planted saplings is a collective responsibility.
The Minister said that during last year’s Harela celebrations, the Horticulture Department planted more than 900,000 fruit-bearing saplings. Expanding the campaign this year, the department has set a target of planting 1.1 million saplings, including 1 million fruit-bearing saplings, 50,000 tea plants, and 50,000 sericulture department plants. The statewide plantation drive was formally launched today from Dehradun district.
Ganesh Joshi said that fruit-bearing saplings have been given priority because people naturally tend to care for such plants, increasing their survival rate. Besides contributing to environmental conservation, these plants will also provide economic and nutritional benefits to people in the future. He appealed to the people of Uttarakhand to plant more trees during the Harela Festival, ensure their protection, and contribute towards building a greener and cleaner Uttarakhand for future generations.
Among those present on the occasion were Cantt MLA Savita Kapoor, Jyoti Kotiya, Director, Horticulture, Dr RK Singh, Director, Agriculture, Dinesh Kumar, Mandal President Pradeep Rawat, Mandal President Rajiv Gurung, along with other officials and farmers.
