Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has stressed the need to provide a special recognition to the apple of Uttarakhand by the use of natural farming. He opined that the State can bring about a new revolution in the field of apple production.

He was addressing a programme ‘celebrating five years of excellence- Sankalp se Parivartan ki Aur’ at Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology on Wednesday. The programme was organised under the joint aegis of the Indo Dutch horticulture technologies private limited and Coca Cola India. He said that a new policy which is in accordance with horticulture development is being formulated. The CM expressed hope that the scientists working in the Agriculture and Horticulture universities would focus on research in horticulture which is in accordance with the geographical conditions of the State.

The CM said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi more and more farmers are getting associated with the Apple Mission. He said that special focus is being made on quality and packaging to ensure that the apple of Uttarakhand apple gets a special recognition like that of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh (HP).

Dhami said that the project Unnati Apple being operated in the State from assistance of Indo Dutch horticulture technologies and Coca Cola India is yielding good results. These companies have completed work on one thousand orchards and provided training to 40,000 people due to which the income of the farmers in the State is increasing.

The CM said that the State government is engaged in special efforts to increase the production of apples in Uttarakhand. He informed that 18,000 polyhouses in the State would be set up with a help of Rs 280 crore, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). To encourage the farmers for apple production a provision of Rs 35 crore has been made under Mission Apple.

The CM felicitated many apple farmers on the occasion.

Former chief minister and former governor of Maharashtra Bhagat Singh Koshyari said that there is a vast potential in the field of horticulture in Uttarakhand and the State government is also working consistently in this direction. Koshyari said that appreciable work in the field of apple, Kiwi, fish culture and mushroom is being done in the State.

 Many farmers also expressed their views on the occasion and said that their apple production has increased by availability of better quality saplings.

 The vice president of Coca Cola India Devyano Rajlaxmi Rana, director Rajesh Ayapilla and others were present on the occasion.