Shimla, September 16: Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, while chairing the review meeting of the Horticulture Department’s HP Shiva Project here on Monday, said that Himachal Pradesh will become the first state in the country to implement the horticulture policy. Its objective is to increase horticulture production in the state and make the state a fruit state. The Chief Minister said that this project of Rs 1,292 crore will cover 6 thousand hectares of area in seven districts of the state. Emphasizing on inter-cropping, he said that guava, citrus fruits, pomegranate, dragon fruit, jamun and jackfruit plants will be planted in two phases.
He directed the department to include small and marginal farmers in the project so that their economy can be strengthened. He said that the state government is giving top priority to strengthening the rural economy and the horticulture sector can play an important role in the upliftment of farmers. Sukhu said that under the project, 60 lakh fruit plants will be planted in six thousand hectares of land by the year 2028. Under the project, four thousand hectares of land will be covered in the first phase and the remaining two thousand hectares in the second phase. He said that this project is expected to produce 1.30 lakh metric tonnes by the year 2032, which will have a trade value of about Rs 230 crore per year. He said that this project will also provide employment opportunities to 82,500 people of the state directly and indirectly.
The Chief Minister directed the department to use information technology and modern technology in this project so that farmers can get better prices for their crops. He said that 70 percent of the population living in the rural areas of the state is engaged in various agricultural activities. He directed the department to provide necessary technical assistance and support to make this project successful. Secretary Horticulture Priyanka Basu, Secretary to Chief Minister Rakesh Kanwar, Director Horticulture Vinay Singh and other senior officers of the state government were also present in the meeting.
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