Rs. 1688 horticulture development and Rs. 423 crore mushroom production projects sanctioned for the state by the government of India would go a long way in involving farmers and educated unemployed youth of the state in horticulture activities.Irrigation, Public Health and Horticulture Minister Mahender Singh Thakur stated this while presiding over a meeting with the team of Asian development Bank (ADB) and officers of the state horticulture department here today.The team of the ADB is on the state visit from 18 to 23 September, 2018 to review the feasibility of implementation of sub tropical horticulture and integrated mushroom development schemes. The team will submit its report after holding discussions with horticulturists and businessmen at Mandi and Bilaspur.The Horticulture Minister said that the horticulture project would be implemented 54 developmental blocks of the ten districts of the state and in the first phase the work would be started in 27 developmental blocks. The new orchards would be developed in 20,000 hectare area which would benefit around 50,000 farmers.
He assured the team of ADB that the detailed project report would be prepared as per the norms and direction of the ADB. he said that government was endeavouring to start horticulture activities in all parts of the state for which clusters were being identified in those areas where irrigation facility was available. The horticulturists would be provided the facility of seeds and market and various processing units would be established where the youth would also get the employment opportunity.Mahender Singh Thakur said that mushroom development project would be implemented on the Nasik model and maximum women would be involved in it. Besides a mega mushroom unit, seven small mushroom units would be set up in seven districts. He said mushroom compost would be utilised in horticulture sector and talks had been held with railways for marketing of the product. The efforts would be made to supply mushroom to schools, Anganbadi centers, hospitals and hotels.