Rudrapur, June 26, 2026: A major agriculture outreach programme titled Khet Bachao Abhiyan was launched at Gandhi Maidan in Rudrapur by Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi and district in charge minister Pradeep Batra. The event also saw the inauguration of nine development works worth Rs 46.32 crore and the foundation stone laying for 32 projects valued at Rs 323.34 crore, taking the total development push to Rs 369.66 crore.
Addressing the gathering, Chauhan said saving farms means saving land, and saving land means protecting the earth and human life. He urged farmers to focus on soil conservation, balanced fertilizer use and protection of natural resources, stressing that land is not just a means of production but a mother that must be preserved with responsibility.
The Union minister said Uttarakhand is moving rapidly in agriculture and horticulture and is likely to emerge as a horticulture hub in the near future. He announced that a Rs 100 crore Clean Plant Centre will be set up in Mukteshwar for the production of high quality fruit saplings, including apple, walnut and almond. He also said financial assistance of up to Rs 4 crore would be available for large nurseries and up to Rs 2 crore for smaller ones.
Chauhan further said a Centre of Excellence will be established in Chaubatia, Almora, at a cost of Rs 15 crore. In addition, a special Rs 15 crore action plan is being prepared with New Zealand’s cooperation to promote kiwi cultivation in Uttarakhand.
To protect crops from wild animals, Rs 65 crore will be provided for fencing works. He also said Rs 104 crore is being sanctioned for automatic weather stations across the state so that farmers can receive accurate weather updates in time and benefit more effectively from the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
Chief Minister Dhami said a healthy farmer, healthy soil and a healthy agricultural system are the strong foundation of a developed India and a developed Uttarakhand. He described the Khet Bachao Abhiyan as a public movement for the safe future of coming generations.
Dhami said the Centre under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken several historic steps to strengthen agriculture, including PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, PM Fasal Bima Yojana, natural farming, agriculture infrastructure and the Digital Agriculture Mission. He added that Uttarakhand is supporting farmers through interest free agricultural loans of up to Rs 3 lakh, free canal irrigation and up to 80 percent subsidy on farm machinery under the Farm Machinery Bank scheme.
He also highlighted state efforts to promote fruit, vegetable and horticulture production through polyhouses, cold storage, cold chain, CA storage and mega food parks, saying these facilities will help farmers get better prices and access wider markets.
Ganesh Joshi urged support for fencing, organic farming and minimum support price for Mandua and Jhangora, while a large number of public representatives, officials, farmers and citizens attended the programme.
Author: This news is edited by: Abhishek Verma, (Editor, CANON TIMES)
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