Education Minister Rohit Thakur has accused the previous BJP State government, for neglecting the interests of the farmers and horticulturists in Himachal Pradesh. He said that the Jai Ram government failed to give relief to the fruit growers and even failed to reduce GST on cartons during its tenure.
Rohit Thakur highlighted the proactive and farmer-friendly initiatives introduced by the present State government under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, which have brought substantial relief and support to the farm sector. He said that the reduction in GST on cartons from 18 percent to 12 percent was a direct result of the consistent efforts of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, who tirelessly advocated for the state’s horticulturists. In contrast, the Jai Ram government which boasted of the so-called double engine governments at the State and Centre failed to address this issue during its tenure.
He said that during the previous BJP government headed by Jai Ram Thakur, the GST on cartons remained at 18 percent, resulting in a massive increase in prices of cartons and trays. The Jai Ram government failed miserably to address farmer’s woes with the Central government. On the other hand, the present Congress government in the state has restored the insecticide and pesticide subsidy discontinued by the BJP government. This subsidy was crucial for horticulturists and its restoration was part of a broader strategy to support the agricultural and horticultural sectors.
The Minister said the state government was also launching the Rs. 680 crore “Rajiv Gandhi Prakritik Kheti Start-up Yojana” to promote chemical-free farming and so far 36,000 farmers have adopted this farming. The e-udyan portal was benefiting 28,358 horticulturists and a processing plant costing over 100 crores had also been dedicated to the farmers, which reflect the commitment of the government to ensure welfare of the fruit growers. The BJP, as they say, “talks the talk but doesn’t walk the walk,” while the Congress delivers tangible results, he added.
The Education Minister emphasized efforts to strengthen the horticulture sector by implementing the sale of apples by weight. Additionally, measures were underway to boost the animal husbandry sector. The government raised the MSP for cow milk to Rs. 45 per litre and buffalo milk to Rs. 55 per litre, making Himachal Pradesh the sole state purchasing milk at MSP. Moreover, the ‘Him-Ganga’ scheme includes establishing a fully automated milk plant in Kangra district to significantly enhance dairy capacity and product diversity for sustained farmer benefits.
In the horticulture sector, a budget provision of Rs. 531 crore has been allocated for the development of irrigation schemes and the plantation of high-density sub-tropical fruit trees. Notably, Rs. 153 crore have been released to the farmers under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) in a remarkably short period. It is noteworthy that Rs. 90 crore were pending from the previous Jai Ram government.
Rohit Thakur said the Congress government has also raised the support price for various fruits, benefiting thousands of orchardists directly. For the first time, the support prices of apples and mangoes have increased by Rs. 1.50 per kilogram, while citrus fruits like kinnow, malta and oranges have seen a historic rise of Rs. 2.50 per kilogram, now standing at Rs. 12 per kilogram. Meanwhile, the support price of lemon and galgal has also increased by two rupees and is now Rs. 10 per kilogram. He said that the Congress government has also established 343 procurement centres, through which 5,276 metric tonnes of fruits, valued at Rs. 63.30 crore, have been procured from the growers.
He stated that the Congress government’s disaster relief efforts have been commendable, with Rs. 110 crore allocated for restoring roads damaged in apple-producing areas to ensure their maintenance during the last apple season. Additionally, the government has distributed Rs. 12.92 lakh to growers for damages caused by monsoon fury.
He said that the establishment of 8 new Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage facilities in the public sector has helped in boosting fruit shelf life and minimizing post-harvest losses. The introduction of the universal carton system standardizes fruit packaging, reduces damage during transport, and enhances marketability, ensuring better prices and competitiveness for farmers in domestic and international markets. The BJP government’s failure to implement such practical solutions starkly contrasts with the Congress’s proactive measures.
