Pantnagar: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the 119th All India Farmers Fair and Agro-Industry Exhibition held at Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology in Pantnagar on Saturday. On this occasion, he honored progressive farmers and also released university publications.
The Chief Minister said that this agricultural fair held at Pantnagar University is extremely important for farmers. Such events provide farmers with opportunities to learn about new technologies, innovations, and interact directly with scientists, which gives new direction to the agricultural sector.
He said that farmers are the providers of food and the real heroes of the nation. The country receives food because of the hard work and dedication of farmers, and national progress is possible due to their contribution. He added that farmers play a crucial role in the vision of a developed India.
The Chief Minister said that under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, more than 100 million farmers across the country are receiving benefits. Recently, the 22nd installment of the scheme has been released, benefiting over 900,000 farmers in Uttarakhand.
He also informed that the central government has released the first installment of ₹25 crore for fencing farmland to protect crops from wild animals.
To empower farmers, the government is running several schemes such as crop insurance, Soil Health Card scheme, Kisan Pension scheme, horticulture development scheme, agricultural equipment subsidy scheme, and drip irrigation scheme. The limit of the Kisan Credit Card has been increased from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh considering farmers’ needs.
The Chief Minister said the state government is promoting polyhouses, Aroma Valley projects, and dragon fruit production to increase farmers’ income. A provision of ₹200 crore has been made for polyhouses, and so far 350 polyhouses have been established at a cost of ₹115 crore.
He said a new apple policy worth ₹1,200 crore has been implemented in the state, and farmers are receiving up to 80% state assistance in various schemes. Seven Aroma Valleys are being developed in the state, and dragon fruit cultivation is also being encouraged due to its increasing demand.
The Chief Minister informed that fruit production in the state has increased by about 2.5%. Mushroom production has reached 27,000 metric tons, placing Uttarakhand fifth in the country in this sector. Beekeeping and honey production are also growing rapidly, and the state currently produces about 3,300 metric tons of honey.
He said that recently a budget of ₹1.11 lakh crore was passed in the state assembly, which includes significant provisions for agriculture, horticulture, aromatic farming, fisheries, beekeeping, and agricultural research.
During the program, Vice Chancellor Dr. Manmohan Singh Chauhan welcomed the guests and informed that more than 350 stalls have been set up at the fair and around 20,000 people participate in the fair every day.
Several public representatives and officials were also present at the event.
