The Cluster Development Program (CDP) will establish new dimensions in the field of horticulture in Himachal Pradesh. The state government is mulling to implement this program successfully in the state.
This information was given by Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi while presiding over the meeting of National Horticulture Board and Himachal Pradesh State Agricultural Marketing Board here today. He said that various fruits are produced in the field of horticulture in Himachal Pradesh which includes apple, plum, peach, pear and citrus fruits.
Horticulture products of the state are famous in the country and abroad. Kinnauri apple is known as a brand. The state government is emphasising branding and marketing according to the quality of the state's products.
The Horticulture Minister said that the cluster development agency will redress all the queries and problems of the farmers under the cluster development programme. Himachal Pradesh State Agricultural Marketing Board has been appointed as cluster development agency in the state to study various aspects of this programme.
The Horticulture Department has been appointed as the nodal agency for the implementation of this program in the state, which will coordinate with the National Horticulture Board. Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation will work as implementing agency for the programme.
The Horticulture sector will be developed through nursery, pack house, cold storage, processing unit and collection centre under the programme. Various programs and initiatives can be converged under the programme.
Apart from this, farmers will also be made aware of modern techniques and practices to enhance their income. On this occasion, Chirag Jain, Partner, Grant Thornton (Program Management Unit) made a presentation on the cluster development programme.
He said that this program would benefit Himachal Pradesh and the chances of success of this program in the state are better. Under the programme, all the information related to their benefits will be provided to the farmers on the CDP Suraksha Online Monitoring Portal.
Vice Chancellor Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Nauni Solan, Dr. Rajeshwar Chandel, National Horticulture Board (NHB) Deputy Managing Director, B.J. Brahma and Joint Director, R.K. Agrawal, Managing Director Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC), Sudesh Kumar Mokta, Managing Director Himachal Pradesh State Agricultural Marketing Board, Naresh Thakur, Project Director Himachal Pradesh Subtropical Horticulture, Irrigation and Value Addition Project (HP Shiva), Devender Thakur and other officials of National Horticulture Board, HPMC Himachal Pradesh State Agricultural Marketing Board were also present on this occasion.