Over two lakh farmers benefitted fromMission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for which nearly Rs 300 crore has been spent, the Himachal Pradesh government said today
"As many as 2, 22,595 farmers had benefitted fromMission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for which there has been an expenditure of Rs 295.20 crore," Horticulture Minister Vidya Stokes said while presiding over the review meeting of the department.
She said the government was implementing the Rs 1169.15 crore World Bank assisted Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Development Project (HPHSP) and stressed the need for developing water sources and efficient water application and distribution system through modern techniques like micro-irrigation (drip and sprinkler) under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna (PMKSY).
Stokes said under World Bank Project, high quality plants of apple, pear, plum, peach, cherry and clonal root would be imported from advanced countries.
"Around 2.23 lakh plants have been already imported under the HPHDP World Bank assisted project and around 30,000 plants under Horticulture Mission," she said.
The minister said "the government has decided to provide 40 per cent additional budget on a central sponsored scheme to give 80 per cent subsidy to encourage the unemployed youth to adopt beekeeping as an avocation."
"During the current financial year, 9 lakh square meter area would be covered under anti hail nets for protection of fruit crops. Total cultivable land under horticulture has now risen to 2,24,354 hectares," she added.
