Delhi to further boost diversification to horticulture

New Delhi, May 29 (UNI) Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today said her government will encourage in a big way diversification of agriculture into horticulture and floriculture with an aim to capture their export potential, in tune with the strategy to raise agriculture output under the 11th Plan.

Keeping in view the declining and stagnating role of traditional crops in Delhi, the state government had been giving stress on diversification by way of shifting to horticulture, floriculture and growing vegetables, she said while addressing 53rd meeting of the National Development Council here.

This diversification policy had already resulted in bringing around 5,400 hectares of land under floriculture as against a target of 5,500 hectares for the tenth Five Year Plan, she said.

''We have also taken steps to strengthen the State Grading Laboratory to take up grading and certification of fruit and vegetables so that farmers can fetch remunerative prices for their crops.'' The state government also proposed to promote cultivation of medicinal plants, agro and food processing industries, even as it was already modernising 'mandis' in the city, the Chief Minister said.

''I would also like to mention that our state is conscious of water conservation and potential of recharging of water scarce areas through various measures that is crucial for optimum crop production.'' Saying successful examples of roof-top kitchen gardens in many cities would be studied for exploring its implementation in Delhi, Ms Dikshit added that high-tech and precision agriculture as in Israel was expected to be relevant to bring in a manifold increase in farm productivity.

UNI