Expanding the footprint of fruit production in Himachal Pradesh, the State Government has brought 3,798 hectare additional area under fruit cultivation.
Horticulture Minister Vidya Stokes said that 3,798 hectare additional area had been brought under fruit production up to November 2013 against a target of 3,000 hectare area during this financial year. “Emphasis was being laid on various activities under protected cultivation which would go a long way in improving the productivity of horticulture produce.” she said.
Presiding over the review meeting of the Horticulture Department on Thursday, she said that against an approved outlay of Rs 84.97 crore, the State Plan outlay for the year 2013-14 had been revised to Rs 95.56 crore. She said that funds amounting to Rs 32 crore were being spent under Horticulture Mission, 8.08 crore under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and Rs 3 crore under National Mission on Micro Irrigation during this financial year.
Stokes said that training, extension and advisory to the farmers and fruit growers were prerequisite to sustained horticulture development, for which an effective and efficient mechanism should be developed. She stressed to establish a close and continuous link between the extension personnel and the farmers so that they be fully conversant with the latest technologies and get all benefits of the development programmes implemented by the State Government.
The Minister directed the officials to improve and equip the tissue culture laboratory at Chail so that adequate and quality planting material could be produced. She also directed that staff manning the fruit processing units should be sent for training to run these units in a professional manner. She said that proper guidelines should be given to the growers for switching over to improved varieties of fruit plants.
Dr Gurdev Singh, director, horticulture gave a detailed presentation on physical and financial progress made under Centrally sponsored schemes.