Horticulture technology mission initiated in Uttarakhand

By Vipul Goel

Haldwani (Uttarakhand), Aug 28 : To promote horticulture in Uttarakhand, horticulture technology mission has been initiated with the help of the Central Government.

Under the scheme, the government would provide horticulture production inputs at a subsidized rate. They would also financially assist the farmers in building horticultural setups like poly houses and water harvesting tanks.

The other thrust areas of the project are maximum use of cultivated area along with procurement and use of pesticides and promoting superior quality saplings.

The farmers are getting a subsidy of 40 per cent on the horticultural inputs. 20 per cent is from the Central Government and 20 per cent from the State Government.

"After the project is completed the concerned bank, National Horticulture Board along with the team of the cultivator will inspect the work. After that the Board grants 20 per cent subsidy. After this, the State Government's work begins. After inspecting the work, we provide 20 per cent matching grant to the cultivator. In this way a cultivator gets 40 per cent redemption in the total cost borne." said Harshvardhan Mishra, in-charge, Horticulture Department.

The farmers are also happy as they foresee great benefits from this project.

"We benefit a lot from this scheme. Most of the time we were not reaping much profit, but because of government's subsidized rates we have benefited a lot and are reaping profits even from the flowers," said Ravinder Mohan Sharma, a poly house owner.

Till now, benefits from this project have percolated to two poly houses, three water harvesting plants and four mango orchards.

The economy of the Uttarakhand is mostly agriculture based and such measures by the government are bound to push the economy of the region.

ANI