A state-level Farmers' Day dedicated to farmers' welfare and economic upliftment was organised in Gauchar (Chamoli). On this occasion, Union Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami transferred an insurance amount of Rs 65.12 crore to 88,000 farmers through DBT under the Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme, the release said.
During the event, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the establishment of a 'Clean Plant Centre' in Uttarakhand at a cost of Rs 100 crore and the allocation of an additional Rs 90 crore for the Gherbaad (crop protection fencing) scheme. The Union Minister also handed over a letter to the Chief Minister approving Rs 1,706.94 crore for the construction of 1,228.2 km of roads to connect 309 habitations in the state under the PMGSY 4 scheme.
According to the Uttarakhand CMO, the state-level Farmers' Day showcased the remarkable transformation underway in agriculture, horticulture, and allied sectors in Uttarakhand, along with historic efforts to advance farmers' welfare and economic empowerment. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who visited Gauchar to participate in the event, witnessed these changes firsthand and commended the state government's initiatives.
On the occasion, the Union Agriculture Minister and Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, interacted with farmers from various regions of the state and visited stalls set up by multiple departments and women's self-help groups. Farmers who made outstanding contributions in agriculture and allied sectors were honoured with the 'Kisan Bhushan Award' under the ATMA scheme, while farmers and groups contributing significantly through reverse migration were also felicitated.
Addressing the gathering, the Union Agriculture Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both the central and state governments are continuously serving the people of Uttarakhand. He praised Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for his commitment to development, women empowerment, and farmers' welfare. Appreciating Uttarakhand's Malta (orange), he said the central government would leave no stone unturned to promote it in domestic and international markets. He added that despite a decline in cultivable land, agricultural production in Uttarakhand is increasing.
The Union Minister stated that to ensure farmers do not suffer losses due to poor-quality saplings, the central government will establish a Rs 100 crore Clean Plant Centre in Mukteshwar, providing high-quality saplings of kiwi, apple, malta, and citrus fruits. He said the central and state governments are working together to make Uttarakhand a global hub for fruit and vegetable production. A five-year agricultural roadmap for the state will be prepared through a team of agricultural officers and scientists. To mitigate crop damage caused by wild animals, the central government will provide an additional Rs 90 crore under the Gherbaad scheme during the current financial year.
He emphasised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's focus on integrated farming to enhance productivity on small landholdings and stressed the need to promote fruits, vegetables, animal husbandry, fisheries, and medicinal plant cultivation. He also announced that the central government, in collaboration with New Zealand, will establish a Centre of Excellence for Kiwis in Uttarakhand.
Praising the Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the Mukhyamantri Sashakt Behna Yojana is a strong initiative to make women financially self-reliant, and that the central government will support it. He also highlighted initiatives such as the Uniform Civil Code, 30% reservation for women in government jobs, and the organisation of Farmers' Day at the block level, calling them examples of good governance. He added that under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, the Viksit Bharat-Gram Yojana has given new momentum to rural development.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami welcomed the Union Agriculture Minister, paid tribute to former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Chaudhary Charan Singh, described farmers as symbols of self-respect and hard work, and said that national prosperity is possible only through farmers' prosperity.
The Chief Minister said historic reforms have taken place in India's agriculture sector under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Schemes such as PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, Crop Insurance Scheme, Soil Health Card, Natural Farming, and Digital Agriculture have empowered farmers, benefiting nearly nine lakh farmers in Uttarakhand.
He said the state government is continuously working to uplift farmers. Farmers are being provided interest-free loans up to Rs 3 lakh, up to 80% subsidy on farm machinery under the Farm Machinery Bank Scheme, and free irrigation through canals.
The Chief Minister said Rs 200 crore has been allocated for polyhouse construction in the state. A bonus of Rs 20 per quintal on wheat and an increase of Rs 30 per quintal on sugarcane have been announced. Additionally, the Rs 1,000 crore 'Uttarakhand Climate Responsive Rain-Fed Farming Project' has been approved. New policies have been introduced to promote crops such as mandua, kiwi, and dragon fruit, involving an investment of Rs 1,200 crore.
He added that to boost horticulture development, the Japan-assisted Rs 526 crore Uttarakhand Integrated Horticulture Development Project is being implemented. The state has achieved significant growth in the production of horticulture crops, mushrooms, honey, tea, and aromatic plants. He urged farmers to adopt modern agricultural techniques and make maximum use of government schemes to actively contribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp 2047'.
On the occasion, Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi said the state government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, is working with full commitment to ensure the success of schemes aimed at farmers' welfare and economic upliftment. He announced that Farmers' Day will be observed on the second Thursday of every month to address farmers' issues, spread awareness, and provide quick solutions to agriculture-related concerns. Agriculture Secretary S.N. Pandey also shared details of departmental schemes and programs during the event.
Source - https://www.bignewsnetwork.com
