Rs 2,000 crore earmarked for strengthening agriculture, horticulture sectors: Sukhu

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today said that the state government would spend Rs 2,000 crore to strengthen the agriculture and horticulture sectors in the current financial year. He presided over a meeting with senior officials of the departments of agriculture, horticulture and allied sectors here.

He said that the state government was working to develop most favourable infrastructure for the processing and marketing of agricultural and horticultural produce and promoting the dairy sector.

Sukhu said that there was significant contribution of livestock to strengthening the rural economy. “The state government has launched the Him Ganga Yojana on a pilot basis in Hamirpur and Kangra districts. Besides, Milkfed has established 120 automated and 32 digital milk collection units in Mandi, Kullu and Shimla districts,” he added.

The Chief Minister said that with a view to promoting natural farming, the government had fixed the minimum support price (MSP) of turmeric, wheat and maize produced under natural farming at Rs 90, Rs 60 and Rs. 40 per kg, respectively. The government was also aiming to bring one lakh new farmers under natural farming this year and they would be linked with the Him Parivar Register, he added.

Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar, Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi, MLA Ashish Butail, Chairman of Milkfed Budhi Singh Thakur, Secretary (Animal Husbandry) Ritesh Chauhan and Managing Director of Milkfed Vikas Sood attended the meeting.