Regular Update
ATM News Network: Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the four-day National Horticulture Fair on Horticulture to showcase the latest technology and self-reliance of the Indian Institute of Horticulture Research, Bangalore under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
Addressing through video conference, minister Tomar said, it is a fact that horticulture plays a vital role in doubling farmers' income and providing essential nutritional security. A rapid increase in production and availability of horticultural crops will help bridge the country's nutritional security gap.
Minister Tomar said horticulture production has increased 13 times from 25 million tonnes in 1950-51 to 331 million tonnes in 2020-21. Which is more than food grain production. The agriculture sector with 18% area contributes about 33% of the total value of GDP which is Gross National Income. This sector is considered a driver of economic growth.
Horticulture is a significant contributor to the export of agricultural products worth more than 50 thousand crores. Emphasis is placed on promoting the modernisation of the agricultural sector by linking agriculture with technology so that farmers can reap wider benefits in the long run.
He said the budget has earmarked Rs 2,200 crore for the development of the horticulture sector, particularly for the Atma Nirbhar (Self-sufficient) Clean Plant Programme. With this provision, efforts have been made to promote the availability of disease-free, quality planting material for high-value horticultural crops.
Along with this, the horticulture sector will also benefit greatly through the Group Development Programme. The Prime Minister has taken the initiative to make natural farming a mass movement and for this, a provision of Rs 459 crore has been made. In 3 years, 1 crore farmers will be given financial assistance for natural farming, for which 10,000 bio-input research centres will be set up.
Provision has also been made in the budget to enable farmers to make full use of technology. FPO is a revolutionary step towards uplifting the standard of living of small and medium farmers, the benefits of which are beginning to accrue to these farmers. Horticultural FPOs are also proving beneficial for farmers.
