Chandigarh, February 21 – Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that the state and Central Governments are working for the welfare of farmers, which is directly benefiting them. Farmers are moving towards economic progress with the help of initiatives being run by the government for their upliftment. In this connection, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed today between Maharana Pratap Horticultural University, Karnal and Kochi University, Japan for the benefit of farmers. With this, universities of both the countries will work on modern technologies beneficial for farmers in the field of horticulture.
An MoU was signed between Maharana Pratap Horticultural University, Karnal and Kochi University, Japan in the presence of Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Sh. Shyam Singh Rana in Chandigarh for research on a technology called Internet of Plants (IOP).
*Farmers should leave traditional farming and move towards profitable horticulture farming: CM*
The Chief Minister said that now the time has come for farmers to do profitable farming. For this, they should leave traditional farming like wheat and paddy etc. and move towards profitable horticulture farming. For this, the Haryana Government and the Central Government are providing all possible help to the farmers. He said that Haryana is called the food granary of the country and horticulture crops are needed along with agriculture. The area and production of horticulture crops is continuously increasing in the state. Seeing higher income, farmers are also moving towards horticulture crops.
*Immense possibilities to increase the area under poly house*
He said that special attention is needed to reduce the effects of increase in average temperature and change in rainfall pattern due to climate change. For this, it has become very important to promote protected farming. He said that in Haryana, horticultural crops are being produced in poly house in about 4,000 acres, while horticultural crops are being cultivated in low-tunnel in about 6,400 acres. There is immense possibility of increasing the area under poly house.
*This agreement will prove to be a milestone in increasing the income of farmers*
Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that supply chain and cold chain management is required to reduce the post-harvest loss in fruits and vegetables. In this context, the Haryana government has decided to work under Japan’s JICA project. He said that he is very happy that MHU Karnal and Kochi University, Japan will work together so that such modern scientific technology will be made for Haryana and made available to the farmers. This will increase the production, quality and possibilities of more income from horticultural crops. This agreement will prove to be a milestone for increasing the income of farmers, which will benefit not only the farmers of Haryana but the entire country.
On this occasion, Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Sh. Shyam Singh Rana expressed happiness over the agreement and said that in the last few years, due to various welfare schemes of the government in the field of horticulture, the interest of farmers has increased, due to which the area of horticulture has increased to 10 lakh acres. The government is running many schemes to increase the income of farmers, in which farming in poly house is an important step.
Vice Chancellor of Maharana Pratap Horticultural University, Karnal, Prof. Suresh Malhotra said that a historic agreement has been signed today. Under this, sensor technology will be used on fruit, vegetable, flower and spice crops inside the greenhouse, through which Internet of Plots (IOP) modules will be prepared for various crops on the scientific principles of temperature, humidity, photosynthesis etc. in the greenhouse. In this field, both universities will work together so that such modern scientific technology is be developed for Haryana and made available to the farmers. This will increase the production, quality and possibilities of more income of horticultural crops.
President of Kochi University, Japan, Prof. Ukeda Hiroyuki praised the efforts being made by the Haryana Chief Minister and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister to increase horticulture farming in the state. He said that a historic agreement has been signed today.
On this occasion, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, Dr. Raja Sekhar Vundru, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Dr. Saket Kumar, HoD-Special of Horticulture Directorate, Sh. Arjun Singh Saini, Research Director Prof. Ramesh Goyal, Registrar of MHU Karnal, Sh. Suresh Saini and members of Japanese delegation along with other officials were present.
