Agriculture, Horticulture infrastructure to strengthen with funds of Rs. 1 lakh crore: Bhardwaj

Shimla. Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj expressed gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for constituting special Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.Bhardwaj said the State Cooperation Department would also constitute a cell to provide assistance to registred Agricultural Institutes, Women Self-Help Group and other institutions related to agriculture and horticulture.Minister said that this fund of rupees one lakh crore would be beneficial in strengthening infrastructure at rural level. This fund would also be beneficial in providing facilities of cold store at cluster level and other post harvest arrangements.The state government is also laying emphasis on infrastructure development in the state, but initiative of Prime Minister to provide assistance at micro level was of utmost importance.

Minister said that several institutions were working towards strengthening agriculture and horticulture sector at its own level. Cooperation Department would support these institutions in infrastructure development. Institutions would submit the demands to the Cell and assistance would be provided to fulfil it.Bhardwaj said that Prime Minister has made a provision of this huge amount keeping in view the issues of the agriculturists and horticulturists. He said that apple producers and other farmers would benefit from this initiative of the Prime Minister.