Target to double farm income by 2024: Virender Kanwar

Our Correspondent

Una, August 8

Agriculture, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Virender Kanwar today said the state government was working on the objectives of doubling the farmers’ income by 2024 and bringing the entire agriculture area in the state under natural farming by 2022.

Kanwar was addressing mediapersons here today on his maiden visit to the district after being given the charge of Agriculture Department in the recent Cabinet reshuffle. He said the department would provide the facility of testing and certification of organic produce so that farmers could get better price for their produce.

The minister said the state government had decided to modernise the vegetable and fruit markets by providing cold stores and other modern infrastructure. He said Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur would soon lay the foundation stone for modernisation of various vegetable and fruit markets, on which a sum of Rs 179 crore would be spent.

Kanwar said the working of the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) set up in all districts of the state to act as extension wings of the Himachal Pradesh Agriculture and Horticulture Universities was not up to the mark. He said the KVKs had the mandate to implement and propagate latest research in the field of agriculture and horticulture, but had not succeeded in doing so. He said the government would soon take a decision regarding the working of the KVKs.

Talking about the panchayat elections, Kanwar said these would be held on schedule. He added the issue of creating new panchayats had been referred to the Law Department for opinion. Former state BJP president Satpal Singh Satti and HIMUDA vice-chairman Parveen Sharma were also present.

Krishi Vigyan Kendras a concern

Agriculture Minister Virender Kanwar on Saturday said the working of the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) set up in all districts to act as extension wings of the Himachal Pradesh Agriculture and Horticulture Universities was not up to the mark. He said the KVKs had the mandate to implement and propagate the latest research in the field of agriculture and horticulture, but had not succeeded in doing so. He said the government would soon take a decision over the issue.