Rs 1,134 cr WB project for horticulture

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 7

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today laid the foundation stone of Satyanand Stokes Centre of Excellence of fruits at Kot-Shillaru and Sabji Mandi at Sandhu in Theog constituency of Shimla district.

Addressing a public meeting at Shillaru, he said constant training and familiarization with farm technology was must for quality fruit crop production. The project had been launched to improve the quality of fruit products vis-a vis adoption of the latest technique for pollination management and to induce new lease of life for unproductive orchards.

He said to address constraint of low productivity of fruit crops in the state, the government had signed a project of Rs 1,134 crore with World Bank for rapid and sustainable development of horticulture sector. The project will be implemented in all the 12 districts of the state in the next five years.

The CM said Satyanand Stokes Centre of Excellence of Temperate Fruit at Kot-Shillaru would have high density orchard of apple, pear and cherry to make aware and demonstrate the growers the latest technological advantage of high density plantation for higher production.

He said a special provision had been made in the project to develop community irrigation facility covering 19,560 hectares of project area under irrigation to ensure availability of water during summer and critical stages of plant growth. The CM said the ban on use of wooden boxes met with severe opposition from several quarters but the decision was taken in the larger interest of the state. He also announced a market sub-yard for Kot-Shillaru and widening of road up to Mandir Manan in the area.

Horticulture Minister Vidya Stokes said imported fruits often caused glut in the market and farmers suffered despite toiling hard in the fields. She said the project would create such facilities that will not only increase production but also maintain international standards for better price.