Workshops and fairs focused on horticulture and food processing should be organized at district level: Chief Minister Dr. Yadav

Bhopal: Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has said that district-wise mapping of horticultural crops should be done in the state. An action plan should be prepared to develop gardens on vacant lands of other government departments including universities and to develop nurseries in the state on PPP mode. By organizing workshops and fairs focused on horticulture and food processing in all the districts of the state, farmers and entrepreneurs of the districts should be introduced to the best practices being run in other districts. Farmers who innovate in the field of agriculture and horticulture in the districts and achieve achievements in this field at their own level should be honored. A summit on horticulture and food processing should be organized in the state like the Investors Summit. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav gave these instructions during the review of the Horticulture and Food Processing Department at Samatva Bhawan (Chief Minister’s residence). Horticulture and Food Processing Minister Shri Narayan Singh Kushwaha, Chief Secretary Shri Anurag Jain, Additional Chief Secretary Dr. Rajesh Rajoura and other officials were present in the meeting.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav has said that various activities are being conducted by the state government to increase the area of ​​agriculture, especially horticultural crops in the state. The state is rich geographically, and there is also adequate availability of irrigation and electricity. The state should also surpass the national average in the field of horticulture. Work should be done with inter-departmental coordination towards creating employment opportunities through food processing along with horticulture. Employment opportunities in the food processing sector should be encouraged by setting up a cell focused on experts and technical skills in the department. An action plan should be made according to the need of the specific area with the aim of encouraging horticultural activities in the three regions of the state, Chambal-Malwa and Mahakoshal.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that it is necessary to assure the farmers that they get a fair price for their hard work and produce. Storage arrangements should be made at suitable and convenient places for the farmers’ produce. Also, develop a system to provide farmers with the correct information about the price of the produce in nearby markets.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that it is necessary to make the development of horticulture in the state a mass movement. All the MLAs and Panchayat representatives should develop ideal horticulture or nurseries in their respective areas and motivate the farmers of the area at their own level. There should also be a system to reward the farmers for their best performance. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that it is also necessary to encourage the dialogue of farmers with institutions like Deendayal Shodh Sansthan Krishi Vigyan Kendra.

It was informed in the meeting that in the coming month, there will be a Horticulture Industry Conclave for medicinal agriculture in Neemuch, Mandsaur. Horticultural crops are being grown in 22 lakh 72 thousand hectares of area in the state. The target is to take it to 33 lakh 91 thousand hectares in the next 5 years. The state is first in the country in the production of spices, second in horticulture, third in flower and vegetable production and fourth in the country in fruit production. Sundarja mango of Rewa and Riyavan garlic of Ratlam have received GI tag. With the aim of giving global recognition to local products, the process of getting GI tag to red chilli of Khargone, peas of Jabalpur, bananas of Burhanpur, custard apple of Seoni, brinjal of Barman Narsinghpur, Gajaria mango of Betul, Malvi potato of Indore, Balam cucumber of Ratlam, water chestnut of Jabalpur, Khurasani tamarind of Dhar and Malvi Garadu of Indore is underway. This will also increase the income of farmers due to increase in export of these products. The progress of various central and fiscal schemes was reviewed in the meeting