State to develop agriculture sector

State Government would attract best talent to enter into farming activities to make agriculture, horticulture, farming and herbiculture employment and self-employment generating industry and gave a call to CSK University scientists to make it a role model for rest of the country.

This was stated by Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister while addressing the CSK University of Agriculture, Palampur, after he dedicated the Krishi Niketan constructed at a cost of Rs. 58 lakh in the university complex today as he released five brands of the organic tea produced by the University scientists in its tea gardens with the brand name of 'Dhauladhar Organic Tea'

Chief Minister said that he happened to be the first Chief Minister in the country who had retained the agriculture portfolio with himself with the intention to pay individual attention to the same and make it a profiteering avocation. He said that 82 per cent of the state population was dependent upon agriculture related activities for their livelihood and happened to be the biggest income generating activity in the State.

Prof. Dhumal said that State had 7.32 per cent of the nation bio-diversity potential which should be developed as a sector to engage the educated unemployed youth in exploitation of the bio-diversity potential. He said that there was vast demand and market was awaiting the products for preparation of different by products with vast scope. He said that State had the different climatic zones conducive to grow almost all types of herbs which were in great demand for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. He said that the State Government had decided to test the soil of farmers of the State for free and give them advise to cultivate specific type of crops which would generate them employment avenues. He said that about 300 agriculture extension officers were being recruited to take the research and diversified farming activity to the farmers so that they were also benefitted with the modern farming techniques.

Chief Minister appreciated the endeavour of the University to produce organic tea in controlled climatic conditions under the expertise of scientists of the University. He said that Palampur had made its name in the tea cultivation and which with the passage of time got lost in the modern marketing and farming techniques. He said that Palampur had beautiful and old tea gardens which were also a source of income to many farmers of the area. He said that earlier Kangra tea was popular for its different taste and flavour with the tea lovers with extensive popularity the world over. He said that the Kangra tea needed to be restored to its old glory and qualitative improvement brought about in the tea cultivation activities. He said that the State Government would be putting best of its efforts to make tea industry a self sustained and profit-earning activity so that people could find self-employment and employment avenues. He said that University needed to motivate the local tea growers to market their produce with the help of University authorities.

Prof. Dhumal assured the University scientists that funds would not be any constraint in carrying the modern farming research work for the benefit of farmers of the State. He said that the scientists needed to work more hard and sincerely to strengthen and improve the status of agriculture sector in the State. He said that limited land holdings needed to be utilized for obtaining maximum yield which could add to the income of the farmers as also motivate other to adopt diversified farming activities.

Earlier, Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of parking at Mcleodganj in Dharamsala estimated to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 3.44 crore to facilitate parking of 260 light vehicles in addition to the existing parking space created by different agencies in the prominent tourist destination in the State.

Dr. Tej Pratap, Vice Chancellor, CSK University of Agriculture welcomed the Chief Minister to visit the campus for the first time after taking over the reigns of the State for the second time. He welcomed the vision of the State Government to give boost to agriculture, horticulture, diary farming and herbiculture activities. He assured the Chief Minister that University would be committedly implementing the vision of the State Government. He said that University was gearing itself up to meet the challenges of climatic change for the betterment of the society. He said that Geographic Information System (GIS) would be followed by the university in all its research-oriented activities. He apprised Chief Minister of various bottlenecks in the smooth functioning of the university for the interests of farmers.

Dr. P.C. Sharma, Dean of the University proposed vote of thanks.

Shri Ravinder Ravi, Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Shri Kishan Kapoor, Transport and Urban Development Minister, Smt. Sarveen Chaudhary, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, Shri Atma Ram, Shri Vipin Parmar, Shri Praveen Sharma, MLAs, Shri Dulo Ram, former MLA, Shri K.K. Pant, Deputy Commissioner, Shri J.R. Katwal, Director, Information and Public Relations, senior officers and prominent people of the area were present.