Awards carrying cash prize of `one lakh each were conferred on progressive farmers and three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed for the promotion of horticulture and fisheries in Haryana on the second day of three-day 2nd Agri-leadership Summit-2017 being organised at Surajkund in district Faridabad.
The MoUs were signed in the presence of Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Kanwar Pal, Deputy Speaker Santosh Yadav, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister OP Dhankar and Finance Minister Capt. Abhimanyu on Sunday.
An MoU for research and development in agriculture was signed between CCS Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU), Hisar, University of Horticultural Sciences, Karnal, and Wageningen University, Netherlands.
Another agreement for research and development was exchanged between Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI) and the Haryana Horticulture Department.
An MoU for technology transfer was exchanged between the Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Mumbai, and Haryana Fisheries Department.
Apart from this, the Agriculture Minister conferred five awards carrying cash prize of Rs one lakh each on progressive farmers who are setting new benchmarks through their excellent performance in production of fruits, vegetables and flowers, organic farming and pisciculture. These awards would be given away on an annual basis.
OP Dhankar conferred Phal Ratan Puraskar on Bishan Pal Singh Rana of Rohtak, Sabzi Ratan Puraskar on Silkram Dhankar of Rohtak, Jaivik Kheti Ratan Puraskar on Rajesh Kheri of Kaithal, Phool Ratan Puraskar on Shivani Maheshwari of Jhajjar and Matsya Ratan Puraskar on Jaipal of village Dawla, district Jhajjar.
He also honoured a number of other progressive farmers with cash prizes of Rs 51,000 each for their excellent performance in different sectors. Besides, cash prize of Rs one lakh was given away to Sultan of Nilokheri, Karnal for excellent performance in pisciculture.
Referring to the efforts being made by the Haryana Government for promotion of horticulture in the state, Dhankar said that the Government has set a target to bring at least 25 per cent of the total cultivable land under horticultural crops. Presently, fruits, vegetables and flowers are being cultivated on about 12.25 lakh hectares in the state. Target has been set to bring 22.50 lakh hectares under horticulture, which would ensure sustainable income of farmers, said he.
The Minister said that apart from establishing a Horticulture University at Anjanthali in Karnal, the Government is establishing Centres of Excellence for horticulture in all districts in the state. The Government is also developing 340 villages as horticultural villages, he added.
Reiterating the State Government’s commitment towards increasing the reach of farmers in Delhi and surrounding markets through peri-urban agriculture, he said that this market has a daily turnover of Rs 100 crore of agriculture and allied products. If the farmers of the state could tap half of this market, they could easily surpass the industry and services sector by getting annual turnover of Rs 18,000 crore. The State Government has prepared several schemes to ensure that farmers get a share of at least of the daily turnover, he added.
He also exhorted the farmers to learn techniques for preserving perishable products for a long time.
While referring to the brand 'Haryana Fresh' launched by the State Government to help farmers to sell their farm produce directly in the market, Dhankar urged the farmers to create chains of their own brands in the market.