Haryana Government will open an agro business school with an aim to teach farmers the skills to understand the trends of market according to the changing scenario and sell their produce directly to consumers.
The State Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Om Prakash Dhankar made the announcement while speaking at ‘Kisan Sangoshthi’ organised on the concluding day of CII Agrotech-2016, here.
The Minister said that keeping in view the demand of the market, the farmers should adopt the crop cycle and crop management practices.
He said that an International Fruits and Vegetable Terminus in Ganaur will be set up according to the geographical location of the state and emphasis would be laid on better packaging, minimum loss management and transportation management. A special purpose vehicle is also set up for this, he added.
The Minister said that today, the owners of various big companies are selling their produce by setting up stalls in the Agro-tech, therefore, farmers should also change their thinking and start selling their produce themselves by sitting in the market.
In order to divert the attention of farmers towards horticulture and other cash crops, a proposal has been prepared to implement the idea of peri-agriculture in National Capital Region (NCR) so that the demand of milk, dairy products, fruits, vegetables of the area could be met, said he.
Farmers are being provided gypsum and other nutrients on subsidised rates under ‘Bhoomi Sudhar Karyakram’ so that fertility of the land could be preserved. A new technique of agriculture was being developed so that per acre income of a farmer could be minimum Rs one lakh, he said.
The Minister said that after a long time, the Central Government has given approval for opening Horticulture University in the country. Now, a Horticulture University will be set up in Karnal and it would have three regional research centres.
As many as 140 villages have been declared as organic villages so that farmers could form groups and sell their products to consumers in the like brands, he added.