Dainik Nation News Portal
DAINIK NATION BUREAU/NEW DELHI
In a significant development for Uttarakhand’s agriculture sector, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan in New Delhi on Monday. During the meeting, the Union Minister gave in-principle approval for central assistance worth approximately ₹3,800 crore for various agriculture-related schemes in the state.
Chief Minister Dhami expressed gratitude for the Centre’s continued support, stating that this financial aid will be a major step towards making Uttarakhand’s agriculture sector modern, self-reliant, and economically strong. He said that the schemes will benefit thousands of farmers, especially those in hilly and remote areas.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister placed several demands to improve the agriculture ecosystem in the state. These included measures for protecting crops from wild animals, establishing Farm Machinery Banks to promote agricultural mechanization, strengthening the State Millet Mission, and enhancing the seed supply system.
He also sought central support for creating high-quality nurseries and infrastructure like cold storages, sorting and grading units to support apple production. In addition, the CM requested assistance to boost Kiwi and Dragon Fruit cultivation, establish a Centre of Excellence for Superfoods such as mushrooms and exotic vegetables, and set up an Agro Tourism School at Pantnagar Agricultural University.
The approved proposals are expected to enhance value addition, improve agricultural productivity, and generate employment in the rural areas of the state. The Centre’s commitment underlines the cooperative spirit of the double-engine government in accelerating Uttarakhand’s development journey.
