Union Agriculture Minister lays the foundation stone for Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence for Vegetables through video conferencing
Narendra Singh
Tomar says Centre and States working together to upgrade Agriculture
To advance the Agriculture sector more rapidly, it is necessary for the
educated youth to be oriented in this direction: Tomar
The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh
Tomar, laid the foundation stone of the Indo-Israel Center of Excellence for
Vegetables in Chandauli (Uttar Pradesh) through video conferencing. Speaking on
the occasion, Tomar said that the Central and State Governments are working
together all-round to upgrade Agriculture. “It is necessary for the educated
youth to be oriented towards this in order to move forward the Agriculture
sector more rapidly in the future,” he said.
Tomar expressed happiness that under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi
Adityanath, progress is being made in various sectors, including Agriculture,
in Uttar Pradesh and the State is also contributing better in the development
of the country. He also expressed happiness that the schemes of the Central
Government are being implemented in Uttar Pradesh and the State has also made
rapid strides in organic and natural farming. Expressing hope, the Union
Agriculture Minister said that UP, in the coming times, will achieve a new
dimension in the field of Agriculture. The way UP has been leading the way in
the fields of cultural heritage and scientific knowledge, in the same way it
will take the country further in the development of agriculture, he said.
Tomar said that today is a historic day for the Chandauli region. “A new
dimension is being added on the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. This Centre
is the result of the efforts of the State Government. Its establishment will
play an important role in the development of the district. Also, it will prove
to be a revolutionary step in the field of Agriculture in the adjoining
districts and districts of Bihar border also. Many new opportunities will be
created for progress through Agriculture. Farmers will be able to get better
yields by using the latest methods of farming,” he said.
Tomar said that Agriculture should move forward continuously and the
quality of production should be at par with the global standards. “In this
direction, technology application has to move forward. To attract future
generations towards farming, Agriculture has to be rejuvenated. We all need to
work seriously on moving towards remunerative crops, use of technology, Digital
Agriculture Mission, taking advantage of FPOs and adopting natural and organic
farming. Together we will move towards fulfilling our priority and
obligations,” he said.
Tomar hoped the establishment of the Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence
for Vegetables will play an important role in the development of Chandauli
district as well as Purvanchal region. “Here seeds and plants of improved
vegetables will be cultivated and distributed to the farmers. Farmers can also
sponsor the development of plants for themselves. Farmers will get a lot of
benefit in increasing the production of vegetables. By using the latest methods
of farming, farmers will be able to get better yield and also export
vegetables. Nursery of other agricultural produce including vegetables will be
prepared at this Centre of Excellence to promote the Agriculture sector
globally. This will not only benefit the farmers here, but will help the
district be known globally in the field of vegetables and agriculture,” he
said.
The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said it is the
intention of the Government that the leading district in the production of paddy
and wheat can also emerge better in vegetable production as well. “The climate
of Chandauli district, which is known as the rice bowl of UP, is suitable for
setting up the Centre of Excellence for Vegetables. There are 9 agro-climatic
zones in the State which are favourable for the cultivation of various
horticultural crops throughout the year. Seedling production of tomato, pepper,
brinjal, chilli, cucumber, tomato, pepper, brinjal, chilli and exotic
vegetables is proposed to be done in the hi-tech climate controlled greenhouse
to be set up in the Centre of Excellence for Vegetables, while cultivation of
cucumber, cauliflowers, baby corn, sweet corn and exotic vegetables is proposed
in the open field. Along with micro-irrigation in the open, a trial demonstration
of farming with fertigation and chemigation systems will be done. There will
also be a demonstration of installation of seepage, sprinkler irrigation and
other plastic culture applications,” he said.
The foundation stone laying programme was also addressed by Chandauli MP
and Union Minister for Heavy Industries, Mahendra Nath Pandey, UP Agriculture
Minister, Surya Pratap Shahi, Minister of State for Horticulture, Dinesh Pratap
Singh and other public representatives.
The technology for the Centre is provided by Israeli experts under the
India-Israel Action Plan (IIAP) with funds for building infrastructure for
demonstration purposes from MIDH. Centres of Excellence (CoEs) are being set up
in the States based on Israeli technologies. These Centres of Excellence act as
demonstration and training centres for the latest technologies in the field of
Horticulture. They also serve as a source of planting material for fruits and
vegetables in protected cultivation.