Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the 118th All India Farmers Fair and Agro Industry Exhibition organized at Pantnagar University. The Chief Minister inaugurated new pulse varieties produced by Pantnagar University and released a book named Pantnagar Pravah. Addressing the Silver Jubilee State Foundation Seminar and Dialogue program organized at the fair, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that more than 400 stalls have been set up in this year’s Kisan Fair and Agricultural Exhibition, out of which more than 200 stalls have been set up by industries, startups and entrepreneurs related to the agriculture sector from different states of the country. He said that such events are not limited to mere display of agricultural products and equipment, but they are also an important medium for exchange of knowledge, experience and innovation among farmers, scientists and entrepreneurs. Through such agricultural fairs, on one hand our farmer brothers can get information about the latest agricultural techniques, advanced seeds, modern equipment and new research at one place, on the other hand they also get an opportunity to learn from the experiences of experts and share their experiences.
The Chief Minister said that I have full confidence that through the modern technologies and innovations being displayed in this fair, our farmer brothers will be able to make their farming more productive, sustainable and profitable by adopting new scientific methods along with traditional methods. He said that this will not only increase their income but will also make the agricultural system of the state strong and prosperous. He said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today India is moving rapidly towards realizing the resolve of being a “developed nation”. With this resolve, continuous efforts are being made by the Central Government to double the income of our farmers. He said that today, 11 crore farmers across the country are being provided financial assistance through ‘Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana’, under which about 9 lakh farmers of Uttarakhand are also being provided financial assistance of Rs 6,000 every year. Today, on one hand, farmers are being provided fair prices for their crops by unprecedented increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) on all major crops. At the same time, through “Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana”, farmers are also being provided security cover against losses caused by natural disasters, crop diseases and pests.
Dhami said that through the “Soil Health Card” scheme, farmers are being given information about the lack of nutrients and necessary fertilizers by scientifically testing the soil of the fields, due to which both the quality of their produce and the fertility of the land are being improved, and along with this, farmers are getting benefits through many schemes like Kisan Maandhan Yojana, Millet Mission, Horticulture Development Mission, Agricultural Equipment Subsidy, Drop Irrigation Scheme, Digital Agriculture Mission. Efforts are also being made to deliver it. He said that considering “agriculture as the main engine of development”, in this year’s budget, while on one hand a historic decision has been taken to increase the limit of Kisan Credit Card from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, on the other hand, along with encouraging natural farming, special focus has also been laid on the development of irrigation and agricultural technologies. He said that the respected Prime Minister, giving a big gift to the food providers of the country, has launched “PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana” worth Rs 24 thousand crore and “Pulses Productivity Mission” worth about Rs 11 thousand 500 crore to promote pulses production.
The Chief Minister said that under the leadership and guidance of the Prime Minister, our state government is also working continuously with determination for the upliftment and prosperity of the farmers of the state. He said that on one hand, we are providing interest-free loans of up to Rs 3 lakh to the farmers in the state, on the other hand, we are also providing subsidy of up to 80 percent through the “Farm Machinery Bank” scheme for purchasing agricultural equipment. He said that we have worked to make irrigation from canals completely free in the interest of farmers. Besides, we have also made a provision of Rs 200 crore for the construction of polyhouses to increase the income of farmers. Under which till now about 350 polyhouses have been established in the state with the help of about Rs 115 crore. Not only this, while on one hand we are providing a bonus of Rs 20 per quintal to the farmers on the purchase of wheat, we have also increased the rate of sugarcane by Rs 20 per quintal. He said that we have also approved “Uttarakhand Climate Responsive Rain-Fed Farming Project” at a cost of about Rs 1,000 crore to take rain-fed farming to new heights in the hilly areas of Uttarakhand.
Pushkar Singh Dhami said that our government is working at various levels to increase the production of fruits like vegetables. Recently our government has implemented many important schemes like New Apple Policy, Kiwi Policy, State Millet Mission and Dragon Fruit Policy at a cost of Rs 1200 crore. He said that under these policies, up to 80 percent subsidy is being provided to the farmers to encourage horticulture. We are also providing grants for construction of grading sorting units to enhance the quality of farmers’ produce. He said that today on this occasion, I would like to urge all of you agricultural scientists to also do research on our traditional agricultural system, and know how our ancestors preserved their agricultural civilization for thousands of years, how they maintained the fertility of their land and also ensured the quality of production continuously. He urged the scientists to quickly convey their research work and latest technical knowledge to the farmers, so that this knowledge can become a medium to increase their production and income and our agricultural economy can be further strengthened.
The Chief Minister said that on this occasion today, we have gathered to discuss the progress of farmers as well as to discuss the anti-copying law and Uniform Civil Code in the state. On both the above topics, Pooja Joshi, student of GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, shared her views on Uniform Civil Code, Neeti Sharma shared her views on the progress of Kisan Fair and student Nidh Awasthi shared her views on Anti-Copying Act, while Seema Rani of “Smriddhi Kisan Utpadik Sangathan” shared her successful farming experiences.
He said that our government has taken a historic step towards establishing uniform laws and rights for all citizens by implementing the Uniform Civil Code in the state. He said that we realized that due to different personal laws for some communities in the society, there is a situation of discrimination, inequality and injustice. The purpose of the Uniform Civil Code is to eliminate these discriminations and ensure a uniform legal system for all the citizens of the state. He said that with the implementation of UCC, not only have all the citizens of the state got equal rights, but it has also strengthened women empowerment in the state.
The Chief Minister said that I also want to make it clear that the Uniform Civil Code is not against any religion or sect, but is a constitutional measure to establish equality and harmony among all the citizens by eradicating the bad practices of the society. But it was the misfortune of the country that after independence, for many decades the country was ruled by a party which did not allow the UCC to be implemented in the interest of its vote bank. Whereas Uniform Civil Code is already in force in all the civilized countries of the world including the major Muslim countries of the world. He said that we knew very well that the path of implementing UCC in India for the first time would not be easy but when the intentions are clear and the public sentiment is with us, then no change is impossible. He said that our government is also working with full determination towards preserving the cultural values and demography of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand.
Vice Chancellor Dr. Manmohan Singh Chauhan expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for implementing UCC and anti-copying law. He said that under the guidance and direction of the Honorable Chief Minister, the university is moving on the path of research and progress. He said that work on integrated farming is being done in the entire state under the guidance of the Honorable Chief Minister. He said that today the per capita income of the state has increased to Rs 2 lakh 61 thousand which is at a growth rate of 26%. He said that 507 stalls have been set up in the fair and so far about 20 thousand farmers have participated.
MLA Shiv Arora, Trilok Singh Cheema, Suresh Gadia, former MLA Rajesh Shukla, District Magistrate Nitin Singh Bhadauria, Senior Superintendent of Police Manikant Mishra and all district level officers were present in the program.