Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday, July 07, 2025, met Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in Delhi to discuss the state’s key priorities in agriculture and rural development. The meeting focused on crop protection, promotion of traditional and high-value crops, and strengthening infrastructure for both farming and rural livelihoods.
Addressing a pressing issue raised by the Chief Minister, Chouhan assured immediate Central support to tackle crop losses caused by wild animals in the hill state. He announced that funds under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) will be provided to help Uttarakhand set up fencing around farmlands, particularly in vulnerable border and hilly regions.
In a significant boost to Uttarakhand’s traditional agriculture, the Union Minister announced that the Central Government will allocate funds under the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSM) to support the promotion of local millet varieties such as Mandua (finger millet) and Jhingora (barnyard millet), recognising their nutritional and cultural importance in the region.
Chouhan also highlighted the state's potential to emerge as a hub for high-value fruit cultivation. He said the Centre will extend full support for developing high-density apple orchards, including setting up advanced nurseries, cold storage facilities, and grading units. He further noted that kiwi, which thrives in Uttarakhand’s climate and is less prone to wildlife damage, would be promoted with Central assistance.
Dragon fruit also found a place in the discussion, with Chouhan describing it as a resilient, commercially viable crop. He confirmed that Uttarakhand will be supported under the Dragon Fruit Mission to scale up cultivation.
Centre has also cleared Uttarakhand’s proposal to establish Centres of Excellence for superfoods, focusing on honey, mushrooms, and exotic vegetables, sectors expected to create value-added income for farmers.
On rural development, Chouhan praised the state’s implementation of key Central schemes. He said Uttarakhand has completed its survey under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and that approval for Phase IV of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) will follow. He also lauded Uttarakhand’s performance under the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative and MGNREGA, where the state has surpassed targets and shown strong execution.
Calling the meeting "highly productive", Chouhan reiterated that both the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministries stand firmly behind Uttarakhand’s development goals.
