Cottage and Village Industries Minister Kusum Mahdele has said that horticulture and village industries activities should be expanded to 3/4th part of Madhya Pradesh also. Mahdele was addressing a meeting of advisory committee of Cottage and Village industries and Horticulture and Food Processing Department here on Friday.
Member MlAs Anil Firojiya and Vijay Solanki and Principal Secretary Fisheries Development Arun Kumar Tiwari were present at the meeting.
Minister Mahdele said that departmental schemes should be chalked out and implemented keeping in view all parts of the State. She directed to expand departmental schemes and activities to Mahakaushal, Vindhya and Bundelkhand regions also.
She said that polyhouse schemes should be implemented to promoting farming of betel leaves (paan) in Rewa, Panna and Chhatarpur. Floriculture should be promoted near religious places in the state.
Mahdele said that manufacturing of bangles made of lac should also be associated with cottage industry activities. People should be informed that orange is being produced profusely in Madhya Pradesh. Betel leaf farming adaptable to climate should also be promoted. For this, departmental officers should visit all potential areas to motivate farmers. She said that the State would not be fully prosperous until horticulture and village industry activities are promoted.
Mahdele said that blanket weaving units must continue unabated. She also directed to connect young entrepreneurs with food processing activities. Mahdele said that beneficiaries are getting direct benefit of village industry schemes.
At the outset, Principal Secretary Ashok Warnwal informed about horticulture, Agro's MD SK Mishra about food parks and Director Sericulture Satyanand informed about sericulture activities.
MD of Handicraft and Handloom Development Corporation GB Rashmi informed about corporation's schemes. MlAs also put forth suggestions.