Himachal Gets Agriculture Leadership Award 2012

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5 Dariya News

New Delhi , 20 Sep 2012

 Agriculture Leadership Award-2012 was conferred on Prof. Prem Kumar  Dhumal, Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh. The Award is given every  year by the “Agriculture Today” the National Agriculture Magazine to  those who frame best policies for betterment of environment and promotion of lucrative Agriculture activities. The Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr. Harish Rawat presented the Award to Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh in an impressive function organized at New Delhi last evening by the “Agriculture Today” and jointly sponsored by the Govt. of India, Ministry of Rural Development, Earth Sciences, Food Processing and the organizations of National and International repute. Addressing the gathering of Agriculture Scientists and  Technologists on the occasion, Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal stressed the need of extending their research from laboratories to the field. He called upon them to innovate environment-friendly technologies that will increase Agriculture Production without disturbing the environment. He said that in Himachal Pradesh “Pandit Deen Dayal Kisan Bagwan Samridhi Yojna” has been launched with the investment of Rs. 353 crore under which 80% subsidy is given to the farmers for raising poly-houses, as a result of which the State has achieved record vegetable production of 13.50 lakh tones worth Rs. 2250 crores. The Chief Minister said that in order to provide strong marketing infrastructure “Modern Fruit and Vegetable Market” is being set up with the cost of Rs. 108 crore at Parala in Shimla District and similar market at the cost of Rs. 100 crore would be set up at Una. He said with the coming up of these markets, producers of fruits and vegetables will be benefited a lot as they have not to go outside State markets for sale of their produce. Chief Minister Himachal Pradesh Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal said that there is a strong need of persifying Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Schemes in a big way in order to provide self-employment to rural youth at their own villages and thus reduce migration of rural population to urban areas for earning their livelihood.  He said that in Himachal Pradesh, Soil Testing Services are being provided to improve soil health. Besides, Doodh Ganga Yojna and Mukhya Mantri Arogya Pashu Dhan Yojna have been started to make animal husbandry a lucrative activity and thus, improving the rural economy.  Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal strongly opposed the F.D.I. (Foreign Direct Investment) in retail policy of Central Government as this will give rise to problems in Domestic market and badly affect the small businessmen.  The Agriculture Leadership Awards were also presented to Dr. R.K. Kusumaria, Agriculture Minister of Madhya Pradesh and  K.P. Mohanan, Agriculture Minister of Kerala among others.  Dr. M.J. Khan, Chief Editor, Agriculture Today congratulated the recipients of Awards and expressed thanks to Prof. M.S. Swaminathan under whose Chairmanship the approval for finalizing the list of awardees was given.  P. Mitra, Principal Secretary Agriculture, Himachal Pradesh, Senior Officers of Central and State Governments, National level Experts, Progressive farmers, Non-Govt. organizations, media and social Leaders engaged in Agriculture field have attended the function.