Latest news with #MIDH
India Gazette
04-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reviews agriculture and rural development initiatives in Jammu & Kashmir
New Delhi [India], June 4 (ANI): Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers' Welfare, and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a detailed review meeting with Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at the State Secretariat in Srinagar on Wednesday, said a statement from the Ministry of Rural Development. Speaking at a press conference later, Chouhan emphasised that a developed Jammu & Kashmir is crucial to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a 'Viksit Bharat'. Several important decisions were taken in the interests of farmers and rural residents of the region, he said. During the interaction with the media alongside Omar Abdullah, Chouhan noted that agriculture remains the backbone of both the Indian and Jammu & Kashmir economies, with nearly 50% of the population depending on it for livelihood. He praised the state's initiative 'KisanKhidmatGhar' -- a one-stop center providing farmers access to all agricultural services under one roof. Chouhan expressed satisfaction with the variety of horticulture crops grown in the region, such as apples, almonds, and walnuts. However, he also raised a critical issue -- imported plant materials often turn out to be infected after two or three years. To address this, a Rs 150-crore Clean Plant Center will be established in Srinagar under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). It will focus on clean, disease-free planting material for apples, almonds, walnuts, and berries. Private nurseries will also be supported to ensure high-quality, pathogen-free plants are made available to farmers. He also stated that farmers in J&K who have received land allotments from the government but lack official documentation will be considered for inclusion under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme. The government is also planning to launch the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) soon to ensure that horticulture crops are accurately mapped and included under the PM Fasal BimaYojana (PMFBY). Commenting on the demand for a Regional Horticulture Center in the Jammu region, Shri Chouhan announced that ICAR would support Jammu Agricultural University with the required infrastructure. The minister further said that the current storage limit in CA (Controlled Atmosphere) facilities would be extended from 18 months to 24 months. For the horticulture mission, subsidies will be provided for up to a storage capacity of 5,000 metric tons, and even those who have constructed facilities with 6,000 MT capacity will be eligible for subsidy up to 5,000 MT. An MoU will also be signed between ICAR and the university to facilitate cooperation. Highlighting 'saffron' as a symbol of Kashmir's identity, Shri Chouhan announced that the central government would establish a tissue culture lab and nursery to boost saffron production. He said the National Saffron Mission would be revised to suit local conditions, and an expert team of scientists would be formed to improve productivity and reduce losses. For improving soil health and fertilizer regulation, Quality Control Labs will be set up in Kathua, Baramulla, and Anantnag. Under the RKVY scheme, efforts will also be made to enhance irrigation by bridging gaps from canal to field. Chouhan recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the region, where he had announced over Rs 4,200 crore under Phase IV of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) to improve road connectivity in rural areas. He appreciated the fast-paced work of the J&K government and said that road construction for remaining areas will begin soon. He noted that 93% of houses under the PM Awas Yojana have been completed, and the remaining eligible beneficiaries--identified from a pool of 500,000 applicants--will be allotted homes after verification. To alleviate rural poverty, women are being empowered through Self Help Groups under NRLM, with many becoming Lakhpati Didis and even Millionaire Didis earning Rs 10 lakh annually. Regarding employment, he said that targets have been set to ensure job availability through MGNREGA, and training programs for youth will also begin shortly. The government will also ensure that no eligible farmer is left out of the Kisan Credit Card scheme. In conclusion, Chouhan said that the government is proud of its achievements and committed to implementing central schemes effectively. Echoing Prime Minister Modi's vision, he assured that all efforts will be made to accelerate the development of Jammu & Kashmir. He thanked the Chief Minister and reaffirmed the commitment to work together for the region's progress. (ANI)
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Blossoming hub of dragon fruit cultivation: Mirzapur leads UP's 260-hectare expansion; govt plans support centre
Dragon fruit cultivation is gaining traction in Uttar Pradesh, particularly in Mirzapur, due to its profitability and health benefits LUCKNOW: The cultivation of dragon fruit or 'Kamalam', an exotic fruit originally from Central America and Mexico which is emerging as a super crop worldwide given its health and medicinal benefits, is emerging as a profitable venture in Uttar Pradesh. Dragon fruit is tolerant to abiotic stresses, pests, and diseases. It has a low requirement for water and nutrients, gives multiple harvests in a year, sustains high yield up to 20 years, and has high nutraceutical and functional properties, being rich in antioxidants and fibers. Though it is highly perishable, having a shelf life of 5-7 days at ambient Indian conditions, it can be processed into various value-added products. Dragon Fruit In India& Uttar Pradesh Though dragon fruit was introduced in India in the late 1990s and between 2005 and 2017 the area under its cultivation increased from 4 to 400 hectares in different states, it wasn't until 2024 that Uttar Pradesh embraced this exotic fruit on a commercial scale, with Mirzapur emerging as a key player. According to the eye-estimated data (based on interaction with farmers and ocular estimates) of the state horticulture department, dragon fruit is commercially grown over 260 hectares in UP, and the average yield per hectare was nine metric tonnes in 2024-25. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 「早くやって」1日たった10秒で体重が… 大正製薬 続きを読む Undo The most commonly grown variety of the fruit in UP is red-skinned with red flesh. 'The initial investment is high for growing dragon fruit, as it requires making cemented pillars for plants to grow and take support of,' said sources in the horticulture department. However, it is one of the fastest returning perennial fruit crops, assuming full production within five years of plantation. Given the lesser number of commercial producers of dragon fruit in the country and an ever-increasing demand because of its health and medicinal benefits, its cultivation is a profitable venture. Under the centrally-sponsored Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) scheme, farmers in the country are given a 40% subsidy on the input cost of over Rs 6,75,000 lakh per hectare for the commercial cultivation of dragon fruit, provided the survival of the crop is 80% in the first year. Mirzapur, The New Hub Commercial cultivation of dragon fruit is being carried out in several districts in UP, such as Sonbhadra, Jaunpur, Kushinagar, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Basti, Ambedkarnagar, Hardoi, Ghazipur, and Barabanki. However, it is Mirzapur that has taken the lead as its climate has proven particularly conducive to dragon fruit cultivation, allowing the crop to flourish. In 2024-25, the region cultivated crops over 100 hectares, out of a total of 260 hectares where the crop was grown in UP in the last financial year. As Mirzapur continues to cultivate this vibrant fruit, it not only boosts the local economy but also positions itself as a pivotal hub in the agricultural landscape. The Way Ahead In 2025-26, the state govt plans to bring in 200 hectares more under dragon fruit cultivation in the state by covering new farmers under the scheme. Not only this, the govt is also considering setting up an exclusive centre of excellence for dragon fruit in Mirzapur's Deoria Kalan village to provide high-quality planting material to farmers and train them in its cultivation and processing. 'The reason why the govt is encouraging more and more farmers to grow it on a commercial level is because it can be grown in a wide range of agro-climatic zones, including areas of high temperature and water scarcity regions,' said sources. The govt is keen to promote its commercial cultivation in the Bundelkhand and Vindhya regions.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
UP earmarks 5 hectares to grow dates on a commercial basis
L Tired of too many ads? go ad free now ucknow: In a first for the state, UP is set to grow dates (khajoor) on a commercial basis under the mission for integrated development of horticulture (MIDH) scheme of the centre. To begin with, the state has set the target of a meagre five hectares for date palm cultivation for 2025-26. Considering the agro-climatic conditions required for date palm cultivation, Mirzapur in Vindhya or Jalaun in Bundelkhand may be picked up as the area for production. Date palm cultivation was a new component introduced by the centre under the MIDH scheme sponsored by it, and the states were assigned the target for cultivation. The state horticulture department already has a plan to promote the cultivation of commercially viable varieties of fruits, like dragon fruit and strawberry. The promotion of date palm cultivation was added to the plan. "Date palm being a high-yielding crop will help increase the income of the farmers and revenue to the state," said an official of the horticulture department, which began its experiment with the crop last year. Over 250 plants of the Barahi variety (which produces dates) were procured from an agriculture university in Rajasthan and planted sporadically on govt land in Mirzapur. The trees are over a year old now and are expected to yield fruits by the third year. The experiment will help to learn to deal with challenges, like rains in June-July when the crop is still raw, said sources. The weather-related challenges will need a special focus in growing date palm in UP, which is a crop of dry and arid zones. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now To encourage farmers to grow the crop, a 40% subsidy on the input cost of Rs 4 lakh per hectare has been fixed for the commercial cultivation of the tissue culture plant. Because chances of survival for date palm saplings are low, the tissue culture plant is the most stable choice, and farmers growing them will only get the subsidy. The centre of excellence, which the department is planning to set up in Mirzapur for commercially profitable varieties, will further promote date palm cultivation in UP.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Taste of India: Dussehri, Chausa UP's sweet ambassadors in Gulf
Prayagraj: The famed Dussehri and Chausa mangoes from Pratapgarh district have gained immense popularity in Dubai and Oman, captivating international consumers with their exceptional taste and aroma. Since their export began three years ago, demand has been growing steadily. This season, tons of these mangoes are set to be exported to meet the increasing demand from these countries. Mango farmers like Prabhakar Singh from Shahpur village and Avneesh Singh from Kunda, Pratapgarh, have found success in exporting their produce. Avneesh, who has been involved in fruit export for four years, owns a 22-bigha mango orchard and leases an additional 80 bighas. He started exporting mangoes to Oman in 2022 with a small shipment of one ton, which received a positive response. Encouraged by this, he expanded his exports to Dubai in 2023, sending a total of five tons. The same volume was exported last year, and in 2025, both countries have placed new orders for Dussehri and Chausa mango varieties. Likewise, Prabhakar owns over 100 mango trees. "A medium quality harvest yields around 800 kilos of Chausa per tree and 400 kilos of Dussehri. This year, the yield will be more, giving us handsome profits," said Singh. Mango exports from the region have shown a steady increase, with 2 quintals exported in 2022 and 5 quintals in 2023. Although exports were lower in 2024 due to a poor harvest, farmers are optimistic this year, expecting to export 6-7 quintals of mangoes. The mango exports are facilitated through pack houses in Lucknow and Varanasi, as none are available in the Prayagraj division. Despite incurring additional transportation and packaging costs, the exports yield up to 25% higher earnings compared to local market sales. A crucial factor behind this success is the adoption of fruit bagging technology. This method involves covering mangoes with protective wax-lined paper bags while they're still on the tree, shielding them from pests, dust, sunburn, and wind damage. As a result, the mangoes develop better color, shine, and overall quality, making them more appealing in international markets due to their improved appearance and durability. The Uttar Pradesh govt has taken note of this advancement and is now providing financial support under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). Registered farmers can receive a subsidy of Rs 25,000 per hectare for adopting fruit bagging technology, which is expected to further enhance the quality of mango exports. Deputy director of horticulture, Krishna Mohan Chaudhary, stated that mangoes are cultivated over 2,100 hectares in the Prayagraj division, with Pratapgarh being the largest cultivation area. He emphasized that sustained growth in mango exports, coupled with technological support, will not only boost farmers' income but also strengthen the global presence of Indian mangoes. Box No brick kilns allowed The Kunda and Kalakankar blocks have been designated as fruit belts, prohibiting brick kilns and smoke-related businesses. Since its designation 15 years ago, the mango crop has shown improvement, and the benefits have been sustained over time. As many as 84 villages in Kunda block and 63 in Kalakankar — 143 villages — are protected in the fruit belt.
