New horticulture policy to promote value addition, storage, technology, marketing:Agri Minister Rana

Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana on Friday announced that a new horticulture policy would be introduced for the 2025-26 fiscal. Under this policy, value addition, storage, technology, marketing and both natural and organic horticulture would be promoted through farmer producer organisations (FPOs). “Our government aims to eliminate disparity between FPOs registered as companies and those operating as cooperative societies, ensuring that both benefit from government schemes,” Rana said, while addressing a large number of farmers, who had come across the state, during the inauguration of three-day 11th Mega Vegetable Expo at the Centre of Excellence for Vegetables in Gharaunda. Rana also highlighted the benefits of this policy for farmers.

“On Women’s Day, the state government has announced that women farmers taking loans of up to Rs 1 lakh for setting up dairy units will receive interest-free loans. The entire interest amount will be borne by the government,” said Rana. He further said various schemes of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and fisheries departments would be made more women-centric.

The minister also mentioned that to address regional-specific research needs in horticulture, a Horticulture Research Centre had been inaugurated at Chandsauli, Ambala, under the Horticulture University. In the financial year 2025-26, a similar research centre would be established in Palwal district of southern Haryana, he said. “Currently, the Horticulture Mission is operational in 19 districts of the state. Plans are in place to extend it to the remaining three districts —Faridabad, Rewari, and Kaithal — in the 2025-26 fiscal,” he said.

“The government is also enhancing the Meri Fasal Mera Byora portal, where intercropping is currently available for select crops. From the next financial year, this facility will be expanded to cover all crops,” the minister said.

He also announced that to support floriculture, an advanced air-conditioned flower market would be established in Gurugram for the purchase and sale of flowers. Additionally, the Haryana State Warehousing Corporation would boost horticultural exports by setting up an air cargo warehouse at Hisar Airport, he said, while adding that this would be developed on five acres, with an additional four acres allocated for aircraft parking, maintenance and repair.