CHANDIGARH, SEPT 9
Haryana has added another feather to its cap by bagging ‘Best Horticulture State’ award for the concerted efforts made by the state government for increasing the income of the farmers in horticulture.
Haryana Agriculture Minister Mr O.P Dhankar received this award presented jointly by Haryana Governor Prof. Kaptan Singh Solanki and Uttar Pradesh Governor Mr Ram Naik during the ongoing two-day 9th Agricultural Leadership Summit 2016 organized by Indian Council of Food and Agriculture in New Delhi.
While speaking on the occasion, Prof. Kaptan Singh Solanki applauded the efforts made by the Council to honour the states excelling in the field of agriculture. He said that the moto of the Central Government is ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’. He said that 60 per cent of our population is dependent on agriculture, which feeds 1.25 crore people in the country. The development of the nation could not be imagined without welfare of peasants. The efforts to excel in the field should not stop unless the condition of the farmers and agriculture improves commendably, he added.
Later, while interacting with the media persons after receiving the award, Mr O P Dhankar said that the pace of development in the field of agriculture in the state has accelerated at a considerable rate. The budget of the department has been doubled during the last two years and Centers of Excellence in Horticulture are being set up in every district of the state. A Horticulture University would soon be set up in the state. Initially, we used to talk only about production under Horticulture, but now we also discuss about other aspects related to it including grading, packaging and marketing. He said that 340 Horticulture Villages would be created in the state and the biggest Horticulture Mandi of the country would be set up at Ganaur in Haryana on the pattern of Rungis Mandi of France and Shenzhen Mandi of China. Haryana Government would develop a big Flower Market in Gurgaon. The state government also has a plan to set up a Agri Business School in Gurgaon to enable the youth to take interest in this field.
Giving the credit of the award to the farmers of the state, the Minister said that Haryana has also bagged Krishi Karman Award earlier. He said that the State Government would develop Peri Urban Culture to cater to the needs of the people related to fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products and flowers so as to benefit the people residing in various cities falling under NCR including Gurgaon, Faridabad and Noida. He said that presently, about 2.5 lakh hectares of land of the state is under horticulture and a target has been set to increase it upto nine lakh hectares.
Those present on the occasion included Director of Haryana Horticulture Department Dr Arjun Singh Saini and many other dignitaries.
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