Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Mar 19: Member Legislative Assembly, (MLA), Chenani, Dina Nath Bhagat today inaugurated Fruit Show-Cum-Kissan Mela at Sudhmahadev of tehsil Chenani in presence of District Development Commissioner, Ravinder Kumar.
Nearly, 1000 fruit growers from far-flung areas of the district participated in the Kissan Mela to exhibit their fruits. The Fruit Show-Cum- Kissan Mela was organized by Horticulture Department under MIDH-2017-18. More than, 25 fruit samples including fresh and dried fruits of various kinds viz. apple, pear, quince, pomegranate, persimmon, lime, Galgal, Walnut, Almond and Peanut besides, value added products such as Jam, Juice, Pickles, Squashes of different fruits were also displayed in the mela to boost the home scale processing of horticulture produce.
Director Horticulture, Anuradha Gupta, General Manager, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Ashok Kumar Mattoo, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Chenani, Davinder Sharma, Chief Horticulture Officer, Brij Vallabh Gupta and other district and tehsil officers of the district were present on the occasion. Addressing the gathering of farmers, MLA Dina Nath Bhagat said that Government is committed to provide marketing facilities to the farmers at their doorsteps and for this purpose fruit and vegetable markets are being strengthened across the State.
He said that there is dire need to optimally exploit the tremendous potential in horticulture, agriculture and allied sectors throughout the State. The MLA stressed upon mechanization and diversification in farming to make it a profitable business. He said that the diesel ploughs have been introduced for the first time in hilly areas of the State which is showing good results. He said micro-irrigation is being introduced and orchardists have been provided with quality planting material for raising new orchards.
MLA said that the drip-irrigation scheme approved by the Government is underway for execution in favor of fruit growers for increasing productivity. Adequate promotion needs to be given to different schemes launched under horticulture sector so that those living in rural areas could get benefit of the same, he added.
He called for a change in the mindset of the unemployed youth towards entrepreneurship and asked them to become job providers instead of job seekers. He said that such exhibitions besides encouraging the youth for setting up their income generating units help in developing cordial relationship between the department and the local people.
Later, MLA distributed certificates among the progressive farmers.
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