Mahesh Dhoundiyal- Delhi
- Coca-Cola India Foundation and Indo-Dutch Horticulture are cooperating in the success of Project Unnati Apple in Uttarakhand.
- Revolutionary changes are being brought in the field of apple production by progressive advanced farmers.
- The target should be to increase the annual turnover of apples from Rs 200 crore to Rs 2000 crore in the state – Chief Minister.
Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh said that Coca-Cola India and Indo Dutch Horticulture Technologies Private Limited (IDHT) are playing an important partnership in making Project Unnati Apple successful in Champawat. In the program organized at the auditorium near Goralchod, Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, while addressing the program virtually from Uttarakhand Sadan 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 changes in the apple sector in the state. Expressing happiness over the positive changes brought about by this project in the apple-cultivating farmers of Champawat, the Chief Minister said that these farmers are making an important contribution to realizing 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 this 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, along with strengthening the economy of the farmers, progressive farmers are also employing others. He said that agriculture and horticulture are a symbol of livelihood, prosperity and development of the state. Modern agri-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.
The Chief Minister said that the climate of Uttarakhand is conducive to the cultivation of kiwi, walnut, pear, plum, apricot and passion fruit. 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 state government is making special efforts to promote the production of fruits in the state. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, efforts are being made to connect more and more farmers with the Apple Mission in the state. The Chief Minister said that under the Apple Mission, an 80 percent subsidy is being given to farmers planting apple orchards. The government has made a new apple policy in the state, in which the target has been set to do very dense horticulture of apples in five thousand hectares of area in eight years. Our target is to increase the annual turnover of apples in the state from Rs 200 crore to Rs 2000 crore. Along with industries in the state, work is being done by making favorable policies for the development of horticulture. 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 paid to quality and packing so that Uttarakhand has a special identity in apple production along with Jammu-Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
The Chief Minister said that the state government is trying to provide necessary resources and technical assistance to the farmers. Farmers are being given a loan of Rs 3 lakh and women self-help groups are being given a loan of up to Rs 5 lakh without interest. Under the Traditional Agriculture Development Scheme, farmers are being benefited 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. Under the Sustainable Agriculture Scheme, grants are being given in every sector to promote food grains, fisheries, animal husbandry and dairy in agriculture. Under Pashudhan Bima Yojana, farmers are being protected from loss due to the accidental death of animals through animal insurance. Under the National Horticulture Mission, horticultural crops like flowers, vegetables, etc. are being promoted by setting up cluster-based small playhouses in the state. Our target is to increase the production of various fruits by 20 times in the coming four to five years, this will not only employ farmers but will also develop a whole fruit industry in the state. He said that processing units will also be set up in the future so that the production here can reach the market in a better way. The Chief Minister also interacted with farmers and cultivators on this occasion.
On this occasion, Chairman District Panchayat Jyoti Rai said that due to the tireless efforts and hard work of everyone, good results of apple production are coming in the district, due to which the economy of the farmers has also increased.
Sudhir Chaddha, Director, Indo Dutch Horticulture Technologies said, “Project Unnati Apple” is an example of how partnerships between private and public entities can bring lasting and positive change in society. He said that Project Unnati Apple Anandana, launched in 2018, Coca-Cola India Foundation partnered with Indo Dutch Horticulture Technology Private Limited as its implementation partner to enhance the livelihood of farmers by providing them with advanced agricultural technology and educating them. It has also helped in increasing apple cultivation and farmers’ income. Director Coca-Cola Rajiv Gupta said that under this mission, better results are coming in apple production in Champawat. With new technology and cooperation of all, we can increase apple production by two to three times. Due to this, the income of farmers will also increase and farmers will be able to participate in the development of the country.
State spokesperson of BJP Suresh Joshi, BJP District President Nirmal Mahara, MLA representative Prakash Tiwari, District Magistrate Navneet Pandey, Block Chief Champawat Rekha Devi, Vinita Fartyal, Sumanlata, progressive farmers and others were present in the program.
