Plan to promote industrial farming

STATE MINISTER for Horticulture Raj Kishor Singh said the Uttar Pradesh Government has prepared a plant preservation plan to protect industrial farmers from the threat of antelopes.

He was addressing a meeting of officials of Varanasi, Allahabad, Mirzapur and Azamgarh divisions here on Saturday to take stock of the progress of horticulture schemes in these divisions.

He apprised the officials that the State Government would spend Rs 7.80 crore on the plant preservation plan. “The Centre has already sanctioned the amount to the State Government in this regard,” he said, adding that the State Government was prepared to promote industrial farming.

The minister said a website would be launched to apprise farmers about the existing schemes of the Ministry of Horticulture. A sum of Rs 35 crore had been allotted for the purpose, he added.

“The Centre is generously sanctioning money to promote industrial farming and it depends on the farmers how to utilise that money,” he said and warned the officials concerned to pay proper attention in sanctioning projects of farmers or else face disciplinary action.

He also directed the officials to visit rural areas and apprise the farmers about the advantages of industrial farming. “No laxity will be tolerated in this regard”, he said.

The minister further said inquiry committees had been formed against the district horticulture officials of Sonebhadra, Ghazipur and Azamgarh for laxity. The horticulture unit of Kaushambi had been attached with the headquarters, he added.

“Industrial farming can prove beneficial for farmers instead of conventional farming”, he said, adding that the State Government would provide quality seeds of international level to farmers. He said farmers could become self-reliant within five years through industrial farming.

“Apart from these, there are several schemes to promote bio-farming, construction of integrated pack house, nursery etc”. These schemes were implemented in 26 districts of the State at present and about Rs 35 crore had been distributed among the farmers while Rs 18 crore would be distributed soon, he said.