Unnati Apple Project has brought revolutionary change to apple cultivation in Uttarakhand:Dhami

In the program organised at the auditorium near Goralchod, Champawat on Monday, Chief Minister Dhami, while addressing the program virtually from Uttarakhand Sadan in New Delhi, said that the "Unnati Apple Project" is a great example of how collective efforts can promote agricultural transformation.

"The success of this initiative is the result of the perseverance and hard work of our farmers. This project has brought revolutionary change to the field of apple cultivation in the state," Dhami said.

Expressing happiness over the positive changes brought about by the apple farmers in Champawat due to this project, the Chief Minister has said that these farmers are making an important contribution to realising the vision of Champawat as an ideal district.

The Chief Minister said that the production of fruits in 20 months from 100 apple orchards planted with high density plantation technology in Champawat is a good sign for apple cultivation.

The Chief Minister said that the project has provided farmers with access to advanced planting material, training in good agricultural practices (GAP) and modern infrastructure, resulting in a substantial increase in apple production and farmers' income. Due to this, the economy of the farmers is strengthened, and progressive farmers are also providing employment to others.

He said that agriculture and horticulture are symbols of the livelihood, prosperity and development of the state.

"Modern agro-tech initiatives like Project Unnati Apple of Coca-Cola India and Indo-Dutch Horticulture Technologies to increase apple production have proved to be highly productive and profitable. This has also promoted the socio-economic upliftment of our farmers," Dhami said.

The Chief Minister said that the climate of Uttarakhand is favourable for the cultivation of kiwi, walnut, pear, plum, apricot and passion fruit. The Champawat region is considered suitable for the production of these fruits. The apples here are famous all over the country for their quality, taste and nutritional elements, the Chief Minister said.

He said that the state government is making special efforts to promote fruit production in the state. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, efforts are being made to connect more and more farmers with the Apple Mission in the state, he said.

The Chief Minister said that under the Apple Mission, an 80 percent subsidy is being given to farmers who plant apple orchards.

"The government has made a new apple policy in the state, in which the target has been set to do very intensive apple horticulture in five thousand hectares of area in eight years. Our target is to increase the annual turnover of apples in the state from 200 crores to 2000 crores. Along with industries in the state, work is being done to make favourable policies for the development of horticulture," Dhami said.

He said that the farmers of the state should be motivated more and more towards apple cultivation so that Uttarakhand can be made a leading state in apple production.

"By planting an improved variety of apple trees with new technology in the state, we can produce better quality apples than Jammu-Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Special attention is also being given to quality and packing so that Uttarakhand also has a special identity in apple production along with Jammu-Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh," he said.

The Chief Minister said that the state government is making efforts to provide necessary resources and technical assistance to farmers.

Farmers are being given loans up to Rs 3 lakh and women in self-help groups are being given loans up to Rs 5 lakh without interest. Under the Traditional Agriculture Development Scheme, farmers are being encouraged to promote organic farming. Under the Farm Machinery Bank Scheme, agricultural equipment is being made available to farmers at a subsidy of up to 80 percent, he said. (ANI)