State Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi today participated virtually in the grand gift program of agricultural projects worth over ₹42,000 crore to farmers across the country by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Harbans Kapoor Memorial Hall in Garhi Cantt. Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bahuguna, Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal, and Cantt MLA Savita Kapoor were also present on the occasion. Hundreds of farmers and gardeners from various districts of the state attended the program held in Dehradun. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the “PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana” and the “Pulses Self-Reliance Mission” from the National Agricultural Science Complex, Pusa (New Delhi). He also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for over 1,100 projects related to agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing. The PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana is an ambitious initiative to develop 100 low-productivity districts, aiming to increase agricultural productivity, encourage crop diversification, improve irrigation and storage systems, and provide easy access to credit to farmers. This scheme will run for six years, with a provision of ₹24,000 crore per year. The scheme will be implemented through district-level action plans in coordination with NITI Aayog, agricultural universities, and 11 ministries, thereby empowering rural livelihoods and achieving the goal of a self-reliant India. Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi, expressing his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, said that the selection of Chamoli and Almora districts of Uttarakhand under the “PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana” is a matter of pride for the state. He said that this decision by the Prime Minister will infuse new hope, energy, and possibilities into the lives of farmers. He said that the Prime Minister cares as much for the farmers as he does for the soldiers on the border. Under the Prime Minister’s leadership, India has achieved historic achievements in agricultural innovation, value addition, and increasing farmers’ income. Minister Joshi stated that the state’s agricultural area is 5.51 lakh hectares, and Uttarakhand’s geographical conditions are highly conducive to the cultivation of various crops, including fruits, vegetables, spices, flowers, mushrooms, and honey. He added that while the plains are leading in food grain production, the mountainous regions hold immense potential for horticulture development. Expressing gratitude to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Agriculture Minister stated that the state’s local crops—such as mandua, jhangora, amaranth, bhatt, kidney beans, and lawn rice—are the state’s agricultural identity. The government is making special efforts to promote and conserve them. He stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, work is being carried out on a war footing in the agricultural sector, prioritizing farmers’ priorities. Minister Joshi stated that under this program, drone distribution and training have been arranged for 102 women’s groups to empower women farmers. This will enable women farmers to utilize modern technology and strengthen their economic status. On this occasion, Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bahuguna also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address. He said that in the last 11 years, the Prime Minister has done unprecedented work in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, and animal husbandry. Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal and Cantt MLA Savita Kapoor, Organic Council Vice President Bhupesh Upadhyay, Agriculture Secretary SN Pandey, Additional Secretary Rural Development Jharna Kamthan, Rural Development Commissioner Anuradha Pal, and other officials were present on this occasion
