Dainik Nation News Portal
DAINIK NATION BUREAU
Governor Dr.K.K.Paul said today that agro-business consortiums must be set up at the district level n the state to provide farmers with all information required for agriculture. He said agricultural experts would have to build confidence in farmers regarding new techniques of farming.
Speaking at the conference on in association with Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil & Water Conservation. the Governor said that farmers could not get good prices for their crops. Agro business consortiums can help farmers in this as they could give them information about marketing
Giving the example of Bulgarian Rose, the Governor said that there was great demand for this expensive flower in the country. It is being imported. There are conducve conditions in Uttarakhand for growing this exotic flower, especially in Munsiyari. Some people were growing it but information about its marketing was needed.
He said that prime minister Narendra Modi had resolved to double the income of farmers by 2022. For this, all aspects of farming would have to focused upon and besides promoting agriculture, cultivation of aromatic plants and horticulture would also have to be developed and enhanced.
The soil of each district of Uttarakhand had a distinction. According to a report prepared by GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, various crops ould be grown in the various istricts to give maximum benefit to farmers according to the soil in that district.
The Governor said that agricultural infrastructure would have to be developed in remote areas. Facilities for storage, supply chain and food processing will have to be set up.
Agriculture minister Subodh Uniyal said that to check migration from the state, agriculture must be focused up on. Value addition through food processing is important. The central government was giving support for developing agriculture in the state. A Rs.700 crore scheme had been approved for horticulture. In the last 17 years, this was the greatest support to the state. He said that there was a lot of loss during the post-harvet phase in the state and for this food processing must be adopted. In Chamoli district, the state government was encouraging floriculture as there was a great demand for flowers by the temples.
