Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi inaugurated Apple Festival 2.0

State Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi today inaugurated the two-day “Apple Festival 2.0” organized by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) at the NABARD office in Sahastradhara, IT Park. During the event, he visited stalls from various districts and interacted with farmers. Last year, NABARD also organized a one-day “Apple Festival 1.0.” The festival’s objective was to provide a platform for apple and kiwi farmers and farmer producer organizations in Uttarakhand to connect directly with customers. Inspired by the success of the previous edition, “Apple Festival 2.0” is being organized this year. On this occasion, Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi expressed his pleasure at the NABARD-organized event, saying that the Apple Festival celebrates the hard work, innovation, and agricultural entrepreneurship of Uttarakhand’s apple growers. He said that it symbolizes the mountainous state’s agricultural potential and the farmers’ self-reliance. He urged NABARD officials to include agricultural and horticultural products in the upcoming Apple Festival. Minister Joshi stated that NABARD has played a significant role in reorienting agriculture and rural development in a state like Uttarakhand. The state government is placing special emphasis on agricultural diversification. Sectors such as horticulture, aromatic and medicinal plants, dairy, fisheries, sericulture, beekeeping, and mushroom production are being encouraged to encourage farmers to move beyond traditional farming and toward high-value crops. He stated that NABARD has provided grants totaling ₹20 crore to 138 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in the state. Additionally, 11,164 hectares of land have been treated through 34 watershed and springshed projects, benefiting 5,045 families. Under horticulture-based development programs, orchards of apple, kiwi, walnut, mango, guava, and other fruits have been established on 4,163 acres of land. Minister Joshi informed that NABARD has also launched 20 innovative pilot projects covering various aspects of agriculture, including traceability of organic products, aquaponics, Moringa-based integrated farming models, farm tourism, natural farming, medicinal and aromatic plant-based models, and zero-energy cool chambers. These initiatives aim to increase agricultural production, create rural livelihood opportunities, and promote environmental sustainability. He also informed that NABARD is implementing a project to digitize organic farms with 500 farmers in Haridwar district. Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi stated that 27 agricultural products from Uttarakhand have received Geographical Indication (GI) tags, six of which were achieved through NABARD’s efforts. Of the 18 GI tags awarded by the state government, 10 have been awarded to NABARD-supported FPOs. He expressed confidence that the state government will further strengthen farmer-centric policies, encourage horticulture, and empower farmers and rural women through institutions like NABARD. Minister Joshi said that Apple Festival 2.0 is a symbol of our collective efforts to establish Uttarakhand as a sustainable and prosperous agricultural state. Many people including Municipal Council President Meera Saklani, Chief General Manager Pankaj Yadav, GM Shashi Kumar, DGM Sanjay Kumar, DGMO Nirmal Kumar were present on the occasion.