The Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Development Project amounting to Rs. 1185 crore had been approved by the World Bank and would soon be launched in the State. This would provide adequate opportunities to the horticulturalists and farmers to learn and grow different species of fruit crops including the main apple crop. The orchardists would also be able to learn new techniques to be adopted to produce quality fruits in abundance said Chief Minister, Shri Virbhadra Singh while speaking in a function organised by Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC), at Dhalli in Shimla late last evening. It was on the request of the State Government that the World Bank had agreed to the proposal, he said adding that the project would soon be launched, most probably this year. As agriculture, horticulture and floriculture were the mainstay of rural people in Himachal, the project would go a long way in strengthening the orchardists and agriculturalists as it also included the training concept and exposure visits to know about latest techniques. Chief Minister said that traders play very important role in marketing of fruits and vegetables and in sale and purchase of the produce of the farmers. It had been observed that paradigm shift in cultivation had taken place and the people were earning well by growing off-season vegetables which had given the required fillip to the rural economy, said the Chief Minister.
He said many marketing yards were under construction in the State and the Government was committed to modernize the existing marketing yards and plan the upcoming ones according to the needs of the farmers and where there was necessity to do so. He said that scientific techniques had developed a lot since last many years and our farmers need to adopt the latest techniques and use latest tools andtechnology to increase the quality and quantity of their produce. He said that the Government would seek assistance of agro-scientists for assessing the soil and climatic conditions for growing different types of fruits and vegetables under different temperature and topography. He said marketing plays a key role in strengthening the economy of farmers. Today eighty percent of marketing was done online, which not only saved time but also provided ample opportunities to farmers to sell their produce fetching them handsome amount he said. “Small profits and quick returns have become order of the day and the traders should adhere to this formula to benefit the producers”, he said.Chief Minister said that many markets had been constructed in the State. He said that the marketing yards should be properly registered and recognised. The Marketing Board and Marketing Committees should keep an eye on such so called over-night traders or vendors who make temporary arrangements by erecting shelters under the banner of purchase counters and try to lure the farmers by promising them attractive prices and later such people, when earn enough profit, pack up and disappear the very next day leaving farmers and horticulturalists in dismay. Such activities needed to be monitored by the marketing committees, he added.
He also honoured the traders for providing better services to the farmers and orchardists. State Youth Congress President, Shri Vikramaditya Singh while addressing on the occasion said that APMC was playing a pivotal role in strengthening the economy of farmers. The APMC, Shimla and Kinnaur are to be lauded for raising their income since last three years. He said that besides traders, the APMC should organise such functions to honour the prospective horticulturalists and farmers; as farmers and horticulturalists equally contribute in strengthening the economy of the state. There was more need for training farmers to meet the growing demand of organic fruits and vegetables in International and National markets he said. He said that land acquisition bill, was brain child of the UPA which was modified and twisted by the NDA Government against the interest of farmers. The Congress resorted to nationwide protest and as a result NDA had to withdraw the same.Chairman, Agriculture Produce Marketing Board, Shri Shubhash Manglet while speaking on the occasion said that a sum of Rs.150 crore had been sanctioned by the World Bank for up-gradation and modernizing of 54 fruit and vegetable marketing yards in the State. He said that it was during the regime of Congress that such a large number of vegetables/ marketing yards had been opened in the State besides upgrading markets to facilitate the farmers. He said that in future online marketing facilities would be provided to the farmers with fixed rates which would facilitate both the farmers and the traders. He said that Solan vegetable and fruit market had become the first pilot vegetable market in the country to be linked online with National Agriculture Market web portal for retail marketing of agricultural and horticultural produce.
Chairman, APMC, Shimla & Kinnaur, Shri Mahendar Stan welcomed and honoured the Chief Minister and other dignitaries present on the occasion.
Welcoming, he said that the income of APMC, Shimla and Kinnaur had increased to Rs. 22 crore from Rs. 7.5 crore during the last three years. He said more marketing yards were to be opened in near future in Chopal, Rampur, Theog and Totu. Shri Stan thanked the Chief Minister for the initiatives, the Government had taken for connecting online, the Shimla and Solan fruit and vegetable markets. Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Shri Nand Lal, MLA, Shri Anirudh Singh, DCC President, Shri Kehar Singh Khachi, Chairman, HPSCB, Shri Harsh Mahajan, Chairperson, Zila Parishad, Smt. Dharmila Harnot, Chairperson, State Women Welfare Commission, Smt. Janeb Chandel, Chairperson, State Child Welfare Council, Smt. Rajkumari Soni, Chairperson, Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Smt. Kiran Dhanta, Vice-Chairman, HPTDC, Shri Harish Janaratha, Vice-Chairman, HIMUDA, Shri Yashwant Chajta, Vice-Chairman, HPSIDC, Shri Atul Sharma, Chairman, APMC, Sirmaur, Shri Geeta Ram Thakur, Chairman, APMC, Kangra, Shri Rajinder Pathania, Member, BoD, HPSIDC, Shri P.K.Sharma, Principal Secretary, Horticulture, Shri Jagdish Chandra Sharma, Managing Director, State Agriculture Board, Shri H.S. Baweja, Deputy Commissioner, Shri Rohan Thakur were also present on the occasion amongst others.