Uttarakhand Horticulture Minister Pritam Panwar, while presiding over a meeting with the department officers at his office in the Vidhan Sabha campus on Wednesday, expressed concern over the continuing migration of
youths from the mountainous parts to plains in search of livelihood. He said that horticulture is an important department to offset the alarming trend of migration.
“The officers should work hard to engage the youths in horticultural activities.” He reviewed several welfare schemes meant particularly for the youths and the farmers with the department officers on the occasion.
He said that the State Government has launched a clutch of welfare schemes especially meant to benefit the youths and the farmers. It is the responsibility of all the department officers to
execute the schemes for the welfare of the targeted sections of the society.
He observed that in the absence of awareness about the welfare schemes, the beneficiaries are not benefited to the extent desired.
A broad level awareness campaign about welfare schemes should be launched in the State, he stressed. He also directed The horticulture officers to make available good quality seeds and plants for the farmers.
“Youths should be promoted to cultivate vegetables, fruits and other food products. This would help in generating employment in mountainous parts of the state. Moreover, the demand of mushroom has been increased in the recent past in the state and youths and farmers should be motivated and promoted to cultivate mushroom in their fields. Youths should be given training for growing mushroom and they should be given allowances during training period,” he added.