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Haryana goes China way

With a view to make maximum use of Delhi markets for selling its fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers, the Haryana…

Haryana goes China way

PHOTO: Getty Images

With a view to make maximum use of Delhi markets for selling its fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers, the Haryana government has decided to prepare its farmers to adopt the concept of Peri-urban agriculture on the pattern of China's Beijing.

Speaking to reporters, the agriculture and farmers’ welfare minister Om Prakash Dhankar said, "The state government is following the concept of Peri-urban agriculture as I had seen in Beijing where farmers do cultivation to meet the needs of adjoining cities. Agricultural products being perishable, have a short life. Therefore, the farmers must cultivate needs based crops in areas adjoining cities,".

Taking full advantage of the state's proximity to the national capital region (NCR), government has aimed at doubling the farmers' income and to help them in meeting the demand for fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers, milk products and poultry products in the NCR through Peri-urban agriculture.

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For this, the state government is setting up an International Vegetable and Fruit market on over 500 acres at Gannaur in Sonepat district, while a flower market at Gurugram to boost the horticulture farming in the state.

Dhankar said, "By adopting Peri-urban agriculture, farmers could make more money as compared to the traditional agriculture. Thus, emphasis is being laid on bringing 25 per cent of the cultivable area under horticulture."

As there are new challenges in agriculture sector, the government has initiated the process to prepare the farmers to adopt new concepts like Peri-urban agriculture, Climate–smart agriculture and give impetus to adoption of organic farming and micro irrigation, besides marketing and branding of agricultural products, he added.

The minister further stated that in milk production, Haryana was next to Gujarat and Punjab, but as Haryana has potential to do better and the gap is not big, Haryana can excel in this field by promoting dairy farming as a profession and adopting some new means.

Dhankar also informed that the 2nd Agri-leadership Summit would be organized at Faridabad's Surajkund from March 18 to 20 to provide an apt platform to focus on issues like doubling of the farmer’s income, soil health, A2 Milk production dairying, acquaculture and agro industries.

There were progressive farmers who not only cultivate crops but have also formed their own brands for their agro products and are also engaged in their marketing. Such farmers being real agri-leaders have been invited to the summit to inspire others, he added.

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