Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi Flags Off Krishak Rath Under Seva Sankalp Campaign in Suwakholi
Dehradun, October 5, 2026: Uttarakhand Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Ganesh Joshi on Monday participated as the chief guest in a programme organised under the Seva Sankalp Campaign at Suwakholi and flagged off the Krishak Rath to create awareness among farmers about government schemes and modern agricultural practices.
During the programme, the Agriculture Minister distributed agricultural equipment and improved varieties of seeds for different crops to farmers. He also distributed cheques to beneficiaries of various government schemes.
Interacting with farmers, Joshi said that several service-oriented activities are being organised across the country and Uttarakhand to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday. He said that ensuring the benefits of Central and state government welfare schemes reach people at the last mile, in line with the philosophy of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s Antyodaya, remains a key priority of the government.
He said camps are being organised at different locations to provide eligible beneficiaries with the benefits of government schemes. The government is committed to ensuring that no eligible person is deprived of welfare schemes.
Krishak Rath to Reach Villages
Joshi said the Krishak Rath will travel from village to village to create awareness among farmers about agricultural and farmers’ welfare schemes. The initiative is aimed at connecting more farmers with government programmes and helping them access the available benefits.
He urged farmers to make maximum use of various agricultural and horticultural schemes being implemented by the Central and state governments. He said agriculture continues to play a crucial role in the rural economy and strengthening farmers’ incomes and making agriculture more profitable remain among the government’s key priorities.
Focus on Polyhouses, Millets, Dragon Fruit and Kiwi
The Agriculture Minister said the Central government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the state government, under Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, are continuously working to increase farmers’ incomes and strengthen the agricultural sector.
He said Uttarakhand is promoting polyhouse cultivation as well as the cultivation of millets, dragon fruit and kiwi, with subsidies being provided to farmers under various schemes.
Joshi said the government has set a target of bringing 91,000 farmers under the Aroma Mission, enabling them to explore additional income opportunities through the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants.
He said farmers in Uttarakhand are increasingly adopting modern technologies and new agricultural practices and setting new benchmarks in the sector. The government, he added, is committed to supporting farmers and promoting a stronger and more self-reliant agricultural sector.
Awareness on Soil Health and Modern Farming Practices
Joshi said the Agriculture Department is providing farmers with information on soil testing, soil health management, balanced fertiliser use, organic and natural farming, water conservation techniques, crop diversification, and integrated pest and disease management.
Farmers are also being encouraged to adopt climate-resilient agricultural practices and modern technologies aimed at reducing production costs and improving productivity.
The minister urged farmers to move beyond conventional farming and adopt crop diversification, modern technology and value addition to develop new sources of income.
Making Farmers Self-Reliant
Joshi said the government’s objective is to ensure that the benefits of welfare and agricultural schemes reach villages and farms rather than remaining limited to administrative processes.
He said efforts are being made to economically empower farmers by connecting them with modern technology, government schemes and market-oriented agriculture.
He reiterated that the overall development of farmers and strengthening the agricultural sector are among the key priorities of the Uttarakhand government’s development agenda.
Municipal Chairperson Meera Saklani, District Panchayat Member Veer Singh Chauhan, Agriculture Director Dinesh Kumar, local representatives, officials and residents were present at the programme.
