Gujarat Chief Minister talks to farmers during Krish Mahotsav through videoconferencing
“Gujarat doubles area under horticulture, trebles production”
“Plan to convert solid wastes into compost manure in 50 towns” —Narendra Modi
Ahmedabad, Monday: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said that area under horticulture in the state has more than doubled and production trebled during the last ten years, thanks to farmers’ foray into growing more vegetable and fruits.As against national average of 70 per cent growth in area, he said it has gone up by 125 per cent in Gujarat. Similarly, he said, the production has increased by almost 200 per cent to 1.05-crore tons. The state also took care to set up exclusive horticulture produce markets.
Talking to farmers across the state on the occasion of Krishi Mahotsav-2012 through videoconferencing, he said the agricultural pattern has shifted from traditional farming of cereals to specialty farming for vegetables and fruits, besides spices and cash crops. This has empowered farmers economically, even in tribal areas. In absolute terms, it is now worth about Rs.9,000-crore.
He said that vegetable production in the state has to be increased further by 65 per cent, for which the number of greenhouse and net-house is to be increased from 6,000 to 25,000, high-tech vegetable nurseries by 100, tissue culture labs by 50 and cold storage 25 to 30 during the next 12 moths. The Centre has also chipped in Rs.35-crore for these projects.
Mr. Modi said that plans are afoot to convert solid wastes into compost manure through water treatment plants in 50 towns. It will solve the problem of malnutrition. He said the Devi Pujak community is being encouraged to grow vegetables in the riverbed.
