SME Times News Bureau | 12 Feb, 2018
Over 4.5 lakh fruit bearing saplings will be distributed among farmers
in three months through state-run nurseries in Himachal Pradesh to
promote horticulture.
Horticulture Minister Mahender Singh has
directed the officials to carry out research and prepare area specific
schemes to promote horticulture, an official statement said on Sunday.
It
said the farmers would be provided plants after testing the soil in
their respective areas. This would ensure greater income to the farmers
as they would be able to grow more cash crops suited in that particular
area.
The state's diverse geo-climatic conditions are conducive
for cultivation of a wide variety of fruits. A total of 35 species of
fruits could be successfully grown with horticulture being a major
contributor to the economy.
The government is laying special emphasis on providing appropriate prices of their produce to the horticulturists.
The
government has also decided to increase procurement prices of citrus
fruits under the market intervention scheme. Food processing industries
will also be promoted so that optimum utilisation could be ensured of
the horticulture crop.
Stress is being laid on establishing fruit
base processing units such as wine and cider to ensure remunerative
prices to the farmers.
The Integrated Horticulture Mission is being effectively implemented in the state for development of horticulture.
Under
the mission, activities such as setting up plant nurseries,
construction of water sources, increase in horticulture area, protective
farming under greenhouse, organic farming, post-harvest management and
food processing activities would be executed effectively.
The horticulturists are being advised to go for new plantation only after ensuring adequate water for irrigation.
