The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) resident representative (country head) Shoko Noda and the additional country director Rakesh Kumar met chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat at his residence here on Monday. During the interaction, the chief minister sought technical assistance from the UNDP for agriculture, horticulture and development of growth centres in Uttarakhand.
The chief minister also stressed on the need for better attempts in sectors like tourism, agriculture, horticulture and renewable energy.
Rawat said that the State government is implementing schemes in different parts of the state according to the specific geographical conditions. Attempts are also being made for women empowerment and strengthening the economic condition of farmers. Cooperation from the UNDP would help enhance the pace of works in such sectors. Stating that there is considerable scope for honey production in the state, he said that work is also underway on schemes to make diesel from plastic in Dehradun and generating energy from waste in Haridwar.
Rawat also sought the support of UNDP in encouraging natural farming in the state. He also mentioned the talk he had with noted agriculturalist Subhas Palekar in this regard. Stating that Palekar’s zero budget natural farming is suited to Uttarakhand, he also sought the UNDP’s involvement in this. He also sought the cooperation of UNDP in the state’s livelihood development mission, solar power initiatives, power, micro hydel projects, efforts linked to potable water, climate change, disaster management, aromatic plants and cottage industries along with the branding of products of self help groups and livelihood security.
Responding to the CM, Noda assured all possible cooperation for the development of Uttarakhand. Stating that she had begun her tour with Uttarakhand after being made the UNDP country head, she also assured technical and financial assistance in development of various schemes and programmes being implemented in the state.
Kumar said that technical skill has an important role in development of the agriculture sector. Work is being undertaken for resolving the problems being faced in the development of agriculture sector in the state. Assuring full cooperation for the development of Uttarakhand, he said that according importance to the state, it had one of the five UNDP offices in the nation. He further informed that the UNDP is also assisting in the establishment of mini cold storage in the state. This will help encourage fruit production and other agricultural produce in the mountainous regions.