In a bid to provide solace to the farmers and those associated with horticulture, the State Government has constituted an Uttarakhand Horticulture Development and Marketing Corporation (UHDMC) and earmarked Rs50 lakh revolving fund to facilitate its functioning.
The fund will be utilised for the welfare of the farmers. The corporation will do marketing of the agricultural produce and even they will procure their produce as well.
Harak Singh Rawat, State Agriculture Minister, had said that on October 2012 Horticulture marketing board was constituted and Rs50 lakh fund was allocated as well. However, the board could not convene even a single meeting over the past three years.
Taking note of it, Harish Rawat Cabinet had decided to rename Horticulture Marketing Board as UHDMC. The CM had categorically asked to make sure that the agriculture and horticultural produce should not get wasted while inaugurating Kisan Bhawan.
As noticed that the farmers are deserting their farms as unused there is need that the board should take proactive measures to re-motivate them to continue tilling their lands. Being the chairman of the board, State Agriculture Minister Harak Singh Rawat convened the first meeting of the board on April 25 and they decided to rename the board as UHDMC with immediate effect.
Even they diverted the Rs 50 lakh corpus on the name of UHDMC from Director Horticulture. He further said that before constituting UHDMC the Government had studied Himachal Pradesh Marketing Corporation (HPMC) and incorporated their positive aspects in their corporation rules and regulation. Even the department finalised the strength of UHDMC, which would be 50 members.
Its 51 per cent share would be owned by the State and reaming 49 percent by the farmers only. Being a major stake- holder, the State Government or Departmental Minister would appoint chairman of the committee.
The corporation officials have been asked to open their shops in Gazipur and Azadpur flower mandi. Now, the corporation would announce MSP of agriculture and horticulture produce. If farmers get better price of their produce it is ok. Otherwise, the corporation would procure their produce and use in processing units.
Talking about the compensation to the farmers whose crops were damaged due to inclement weather, Rawat said that CM has already allocated Rs10 crore out of Rs33 crore revolving fund to be disbursed among the affected farmers. Meanwhile, the State Government had already procured 1200 quintal ginger and turmeric seeds, which would be distributed among the farmers at 75 per cent subsidy.
Even public representative, Zila Panchayat presidents and block Pramukhs have been appealed to make sure that aggrieved farmers should get compensation against their losses. As per the rough estimate, crops worth Rs512 crore have been damaged. However, the Chief Minister has made it clear that the farmer should not get compensation less than Rs1000.