By OUR STAFF REPORTER
New Delhi, 11 Jul: Governor Lt General Gurmit Singh (Retd) made a courtesy call on Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan here on Thursday. The Governor discussed with the Union Minister various issues related to the agriculture sector and rural development in Uttarakhand.
The Governor said that there is a lot of potential in the field of beekeeping in the state. A revolution can be brought in the field of beekeeping. At present, the state can produce up to 4 thousand tonnes of honey. For this, he requested cooperation from the Central Government. He pointed out that various types of herbs, flowers, etc., are found in the Himalayas and Uttarakhand’s forests. There is, thus, a lot of potential in the aromatics sector in Uttarakhand. He requested cooperation in this field.
The Governor told the Agriculture Minister that, in hilly areas where there are no means of irrigation, cultivation of coarse grains (millets) is beneficial because less water is required for their production. He requested that the Central Government should provide special assistance to promote this. If the production of coarse grains is promoted, then the women of the state will get direct benefit from it. On the one hand, the problem of migration would be controlled, while on the other empowerment of women would be ensured.
The Agriculture Minister assured all possible cooperation in view of his special attachment to Devbhoomi Uttarakhand.
