Flower and Honey Policy to Be Introduced Soon
Dehradun: In a major step towards agricultural reform, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday launched the e-Rupi system, a technology-driven digital payment solution, along with four ambitious agricultural policies aimed at transforming Uttarakhand’s agrarian landscape. The launch event took place at the Secretariat.
The newly introduced agricultural initiatives include the Kiwi Policy, Dragon Fruit Policy, Apple Post-Harvest Management Scheme, and the Millet Mission. These schemes are designed to enhance income opportunities for farmers, promote crop diversification, and reduce migration by creating employment in rural areas.
e-Rupi System: Digital Revolution in Farm Subsidy
The Chief Minister emphasized that the e-Rupi system will serve as a transparent, fast, and middleman-free digital payment method. Under this system, farmers will receive subsidies through e-vouchers (SMS or QR code), which can be redeemed at authorized centers for purchasing fertilizers, seeds, medicines, and other essential agricultural inputs.
To ensure effective implementation, the Chief Minister instructed officials to conduct village-level training programs to raise awareness among farmers and help them adopt this new technology.
New Agricultural Policies at a Glance
1. Kiwi Policy
Total Cost: ₹894 crore
Objective: Cultivation on 3,500 hectares within 6 years
Expected Output: 14,000 metric tons annually
Beneficiaries: 9,000 farmers
2. Dragon Fruit Policy
Total Cost: ₹15 crore
Area Targeted: 228 acres
Production Goal: 350 metric tons
Focus: Support for small and medium farmers
3. Apple Post-Harvest Management Scheme
Total Cost: ₹144.55 crore
Target: 5,000 hectares under ultra-dense plantation
Infrastructure: 22 Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage units and sorting-grading facilities
Subsidy: 50% for individual farmers, up to 70% for farmer groups
4. Millet Mission
Total Cost: ₹135 crore
Coverage: 70,000 hectares across 68 development blocks in two phases
Subsidy: Up to 80% on investments
Incentives:
₹4,000 per hectare for row sowing
₹2,000 for other methods
₹300 per quintal bonus on procurement
Upcoming Initiatives
The Chief Minister also announced that the government is working on dedicated Flower and Honey Policies, which will be launched soon to further boost income sources for local farmers.
Leadership Speaks
Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi highlighted that the government has set an ambitious target for ultra-intensive apple farming over 5,000 hectares by 2030-31. He added that the millet and fruit policies will play a crucial role in promoting Uttarakhand’s agricultural products at a national level while boosting the rural economy.
Key Attendees
The event was attended by senior officials and agricultural leaders, including:
Maheshwar Singh Mehra – Vice President, Tea Development Advisory Council
Bhupesh Upadhyay – Vice President, Uttarakhand Organic Agriculture
Balbir Dhuniyal – Vice President, Herb Advisory Committee
Pratap Singh Panwar – Vice President, State Medicinal Plant Board
Bhuvan Vikram Dabral – Vice President, Herb Committee
Dr. S.N. Pandey – Secretary
Ranveer Singh Chauhan – Director General, Agriculture
Gaurav Kumar – Director, ITDA
Farmers from various districts also participated in the event, marking it a significant milestone in Uttarakhand’s journey toward becoming a self-reliant and progressive agricultural state.
