Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the activities of branding and marketing of horticulture crops and products in the districts should be done on mission mode under the ‘Ek Zila -Ek Utpad’ scheme. As many as 363 food processing units have been established in the state. Also, 212 units have been established under Pradhan Mantri Khadya Udyam Unnayan Yojna and 151 units under the Rajya Yojana, which is commendable. Chief Minister Chouhan said that the Horticulture Department should increase efforts to complete the works of setting up potato tissue culture and aeroponic labs, hi-tech floriculture nurseries and setting up 1,500 micro food processing units in the long run.

Chief Minister Chouhan reviewed the works of Horticulture and Food Processing Department at his residence on Saturday. Minister of State for Horticulture and Food Processing (Independent Charge), Narmada Valley Development Bharat Singh Kushwaha, Chief Secretary Iqbal Singh Bains, Additional Chief Secretary and Agriculture Production Commissioner Shailendra Singh and Additional Chief Secretary Horticulture and Food Processing J N Kansotiya besides senior officials were present. Chouhan said that the work of developing 14.28 lakh metric ton cold storage capacity has been done in the state. This year, the focus should be set for capacity addition of 25,000 metric tonnes.

He said that the short-term goals of the Horticulture Department including increasing micro-irrigation, chain-link fencing on farmers’ fields, organic horticulture through convergence of nursery gaushalas, farmers’ training, gardener training and horticulture crop area expansion work should be completed within the time frame. By the end of the financial year, the work of setting up office-cum-training centre at the divisional and block level and starting the Centre of Excellence at Morena should also be completed.

Green house clusters will be made in ten districts: In the review meeting, Chouhan instructed officials to accelerate the work of increasing productivity and diversification of crops, efforts for agricultural infrastructure, increase in certified organic production, value addition of agriculture and horticulture products and additional employment for fisheries, sericulture development and beekeeping. It was informed that this year bhoomipujan of incubation centres has been done at Sehore, Gwalior and Morena. A cluster of shade net manufacturing has been developed in Betul district. Green house clusters will be developed in ten districts of the state including Bhopal, Sehore, Ujjain, Ratlam, Neemuch, Barwani, Khandwa, Khargone, Jabalpur and Chhindwara.

Promotion of betel cultivation: It was apprised in the meeting that farmers are being encouraged to cultivate betel leaves in the State. Farmers in Sagar and Chhatarpur district in Bundelkhand region have come forward for this. In the year 2021-22, financial assistance of Rs 29,000 per unit was provided to 520 beneficiaries. The target is to benefit the beneficiaries in the current financial year also.

Expansion of vegetable, floral and spice sectors in agricultural diversification: Agricultural diversification is being promoted in the state. Area expansion work is being done in 13,328 hectares in the financial year 2022-23. Mango, Guava, Lime, Cashew, Pomegranate, Grapes, Dragon Fruit, Strawberry, Banana, Amla and Orange are being produced in more than 2,000 areas. Crop diversification work is going on in the vegetable extension area. In these, production of tomato, capsicum, cucumber, gilki, lauki, ladyfinger etc. has been taken.

The expansion of vegetable as well as flower area and spice sector has increased by 6.45 per cent as compared to last year. In the state, 137 horticulture nurseries were selected from self-help groups for strengthening them on PPP mode. With this 93.75 lakh saplings were prepared.