Punjab receives first installment of Rs 28.50 crore for implementing horticulture action plan under NHM

Chandigarh, November 30, 2014: Punjab has received a grant of Rs 28.50 Crore as first installment of the annual action plan to be implemented under National Horticulture Mission. The Union Agriculture Ministry has already approved an annual action plan of Rs 82.50 Crore for the State under the National Horticulture Mission for Punjab in current financial year to promote ‘Agriculture Diversification’ program in the State.
Disclosing this here today Spokesman of the Horticulture department said that under this plan funds would be provided for setting up and maintenance of orchards, floriculture, Bee-keeping besides installation of community water tanks, Green House, Cold Stores and packs houses. He also said that the approval of the action plan would help in motivating the farmers to shift from paddy to other less water intensive alternate crops like Bee-Keeping, Mushroom -cultivation flowers, fruits and vegetables besides by providing the required machinery/ farm equipment to the cultivators.
He said that Punjab government is taking concrete steps to strengthen the infra structure for the preservation of the fruits and vegetables which includes establishing two Centres of Excellence in the state including Centre of Excellence for Citrus at Khanaura in Hoshiarpur district at a cost of Rs 10.30 crore and Centre of Excellence for Vegetables at Kartarpur in Jalandhar district at a cost of Rs 9.73 crore.  He further said  that  three Centre of Excellence on Potatos at Dhogri Kalan In Jalandhar district at a cost of Rs. 7.30 crore,Cenre of Excellent on Floury-culture at Doraha district Ludhiana at a cost of Rs.8 crore and Centre of Excellence for utilisation of brackish water for utilising horticulture crop like fruits and vegetables P.A.U research  station Bhatinda at a cost of Rs.14.96 crore would also be set up soon.
He also said that besides National Vegetable Initiative (NVI), a subsidiary scheme of RKVY, has also been implemented in the five districts Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Sangrur, Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib, under which the Centre has approved Rs six crore in the current fiscal. He further added that to give big boost to the horticulture in the state by undertaking extensive research and extension services, a concrete proposal for the expansion of Litchi and Peer estates. Two proposals have been sent under the RKVY for establishing two sub centers of the Citrus estates at Maur (Bathinda) and Kotkapura (Faridkot). These centers would be provided all the facilities extended to the Citrus estates
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