The Governor Krishan Kant Paul has highlighted a need for creation of agro-business consortiums at district level so that the farmers are provided with necessary information for agriculture.
He was addressing a conference on Food processing and Kisan Sampada Yojana’ organised by the Associate Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM) in association with Ministry of Food Processing Government of India and Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation here on Tuesday.
The Governor said that it is unfortunate that the farmers don’t get good prices for their crops and the agro business consortiums can help farmers by giving information about marketing to them.
Giving the example of Bulgarian Rose, the Governor said that there is great demand for this expensive flower in our country and conditions for growing this exotic flower in many parts of Uttarakhand especially Munsiyari are conducive.
He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resolved to double the income of farmers by 2022 and to fulfil it all aspects of farming would have to be focussed upon.
Promoting agriculture, cultivation of aromatic plants and horticulture should be done, he added. He said that the G B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, has prepared report on best crops suited for every district of the state and the government and farmers should take help of this report.
Emphasizing on development of agricultural infrastructure in remote areas the governor said that facilities for storage, supply chain and food processing will have to be set up in the State.
In his address, the Agriculture minister Subodh Uniyal said that to check migration from the state, agriculture should be focused upon and value addition through food processing is important to enhance the income of the farmers.
He said that the central government is giving full support for developing agriculture in the state and recently Rs 700 Crore scheme had been approved for developing horticulture in the state. Regretting on high post-harvest phase loss in the State, Uniyal called for adopting proper food processing techniques in the state.
The Minister informed that in Chamoli district, the state government is encouraging floriculture as there is a great demand for flowers by the temples and other religious places.
The Director Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Dr P K Mishra and Assocham’s Chetan Vij, many agricultural scientists and farmers were present on the occasion.