Himachal Pradesh to Become India’s Fruit Bowl with New Horticulture Policy
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Announces Ambitious Plan
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh), September 16: Himachal Pradesh is set to become the first state in India to create a Horticulture Policy aimed at boosting fruit production. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu shared this exciting news after reviewing the HP Shiva Project of the Horticulture Department.
Details of the HP Shiva Project
The project, worth Rs. 1,292 crore, will cover 6,000 hectares in seven districts. It will be implemented in two phases, with 4,000 hectares in the first phase and 2,000 hectares in the second. The project aims to plant 60 lakh fruit saplings, including guava, citrus fruits, pomegranate, dragon fruit, blueberry, and jackfruit, by 2028.
Economic and Employment Benefits
By 2032, the project is expected to produce 1.30 lakh metric tonnes of fruit, generating approximately Rs. 230 crore in trade value annually. It will also create direct and indirect employment opportunities for 82,500 people in the state.
Support for Farmers
Chief Minister Sukhu emphasized the importance of including small and marginal farmers in the project to strengthen their economy. He also highlighted the need for modern technology and information technology to ensure farmers receive good prices for their produce. The state government will provide technical support to make the project successful.
Officials Present
Key officials, including Secretary Horticulture Priyanka Basu, Secretary to Chief Minister Rakesh Kanwar, and Director Horticulture Vinay Singh, attended the meeting where the project was discussed.
Doubts Revealed
Himachal Pradesh -: Himachal Pradesh is a state in northern India, known for its beautiful mountains and cool climate.
Horticulture Policy -: A Horticulture Policy is a set of rules and plans made by the government to help grow more fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
Chief Minister -: The Chief Minister is the head of the government in an Indian state, similar to a principal in a school but for the whole state.
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu -: Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is the current Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, the person in charge of the state government.
Rs. 1,292 crore -: Rs. 1,292 crore is a large amount of money, where 1 crore equals 10 million rupees. So, Rs. 1,292 crore is 12.92 billion rupees.
HP Shiva Project -: The HP Shiva Project is a special plan by the Himachal Pradesh government to grow more fruits by planting many fruit trees.
hectares -: A hectare is a unit of area used to measure land. One hectare is about the size of a big football field.
saplings -: Saplings are young trees that are small and just starting to grow.
metric tonnes -: A metric tonne is a unit of weight. One metric tonne is equal to 1,000 kilograms, which is about the weight of a small car.
marginal farmers -: Marginal farmers are farmers who have very small pieces of land and often struggle to make enough money from farming.
modern technology -: Modern technology refers to new tools and machines that make work easier and more efficient, like tractors and irrigation systems for farming.
technical assistance -: Technical assistance means getting help from experts who know a lot about farming to teach farmers better ways to grow crops.