Prepare Action Plan to Increase Micro Irrigation Area for Horticulture Crops
Bhopal. Chief Minister Shri Shivarj Singh Chouhan gave directives to prepare an action plan to increase micro irrigation area for horticulture crops. Undertake fruit plantation work on top priority over One lakh hectare area on both the banks of Narmada River. Regarding expansion of vegetable area, prepare schemes as per the demand and supply so that farmers do not incur losses. CM Shri Chouhan was reviewing the Hortilculture and Food Processing department here today. Minister of State for Horticulture and Food Processing Shri Suryaprakash Meena and Chief Secretary Shri B.P. Singh were present in the meeting.
CM Shri Chouhan reviewing the departmental schemes said that contract farming should be encouraged to protect farmers from loss due to rise and fall in market rates. Make efforts to encourage food processing in horticulture crops. Moreover prepare a strategy to increase the production of horticulture crops which has demand in country and abroad beside scope in market. Encourage drip and sprinkler irrigation system for horticulture crops and make better training arrangements for departmental staff.
It is informed in the meeting that all the approvals have been made online in the department which can be viewed on the portal. Fruit routes and clusters have been made including 2490 villages by the department. Payment of grant in all the schemes is being deposited directly in the beneficiary’s bank account. Also 7753 beneficiaries under different schemes were taken on tour of the successful areas. 5 model clusters have been developed by the department including tomatoes in Shivpuri district, vegetables in Chhindwara, potatoes and carrots in Indore and potatoes cluster in Dewas district. Scheme has been prepared to develop fruit parks at private land in One k.m. radius on both the banks of Narmada River. Furthermore, 22 experts have been included in the list to provide technical advice to the farmers. Under the Prime Minister Agriculture Irrigation scheme, drip and sprinkler irrigation arrangements have been made on 41 thousand 713 hectare area. In the current financial year, 8120 onion warehouses and 70 cold stores have been constructed for post yield management. Centre of Excellence in citrus fruit category at district Shajapur and Center of Excellence for Floriculture at Sehore have been approved.
Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture Shri P.S. Meena, Principal Secretary Horticulture Shri Ashok Varnval and other departmental officers were present in the meeting.
