Other States - Himachal Pradesh   

Asian Bank to assist H.P. in agri-business

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Minister Singhi Ram has said that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) would assist the State in agri-business development.

All activities of the horticulture sector had been included in the priority sector and "specialised category of activities'' in the New Industrial Policy of the State. For this, a separate package of incentives was available - including the assistance by ADB - he said while addressing the 77th Annual General Meeting of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research Society at New Delhi on Sunday.

Mr Singhi Ram said the state had achieved highest fruit production of 6.96 lakh MT during the year 2005-06, including a record apple production of 5.40 lakh MT. As many as 2.42 crore apple boxes were sent outside the state in the last fiscal year as against 2.37 crores boxes during 2004-05.

He said horticulture was an important sector and was contributing a lot in improving the economic condition of the farmers.

He said a Rs.-80-crore Horticulture Technology Mission was under implementation.

The Minister said improved varieties of sub-tropical fruit plants like Aonla, Ber, Kathal, pomegranate, Karonda and mango had been introduced in the State with a view to diversify horticulture in sub-tropical areas.

Besides fruits, the state also produced about 4,700 MT of mushroom, 1,247 MT of honey, 42 MT of hops and floriculture products worth Rs. 8 crores every year, he added.

He said the horticultural industry of the state was presently contributing about Rs. 1,500 crores per annum to the GDP of the state.

Himachal was well known as the ``Apple State of India '' and was on its way to become ``Horticulture State of India''. - UNI.

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Asian Bank to assist H.P. in agri-business

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