Uttarakhand has been conferred with the best horticulture State in the country award by the Agriculture True group. The award was presented to the agriculture and horticulture minister of Uttarakhand Subodh Uniyal by union Agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar in New Delhi on Thursday during the 12th Agriculture leadership summit.

Speaking on the occasion Uniyal said that though Uttarakhand is a small state having only 13 districts, it has dedicated itself completely to fulfil the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to double the income of farmers. He said that Uttarakhand has adopted the model of integrated agriculture to increase the income of the farmers. He said that the state government is promoting 20,000 mushroom growers and has reserved 40 per cent of funds under the district plan for agriculture and horticulture activities due to which poly house construction and high density fruit plantation is getting a fillip in the state.

The minister added that the state government is providing an interest free loan of Rs five lakhs and a low interest loan of Rs three lakhs to the agriculturists. Uniyal thanked the government of India for showing magnanimity in providing help to the state and hoped that it would continue.

In Dehradun, Uniyal said that the horticulture sector is having a great potential for the state. He said that the state has focused on high yielding fruit cultivation, encouraged farmers to grow off-seasonal vegetables and has implemented The Nursery act. He said that Uttarakhand is the only state in the country which has made a provision of six month of imprisonment under nursery act. The minister said that the state government has worked in developing a separate brand of ‘Uttarakhand Apples’ by promoting packaging and marketing. He congratulated the horticulturists and department personnel for the unique achievement.