Himachal CM launches Rs.1010.60 crore phase-II of JICA aided farm project for State

Dharamsala, November 16, 2021: Chief  Minister Jai Ram Thakur presided over the launching ceremony of  Rs 1010.60 crore phase-II of the HP Crop Diversification Promotion Project (HPCDP) supported by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the State at Dharamsala today.
The Chief Minister said, “The state government is  committed to the development of rural areas as more than 90 percent of the total population lives in these areas and about 70 percent of the population is dependent on the agriculture sector for livelihood.  Despite limited financial resources and slowdown due to the Corona pandemic, the present state government has launched various new schemes to promote irrigation, agriculture, horticulture, forestry and allied sectors besides ensuring all-round and equitable development of the State.”
Jai Ram Thakur said that the phase-II of the JICA aided crop diversification project would be implemented in all the 12 districts of state and would give a big boost to the socio-economic status of farmer's families. The phase-I of the project being implemented in five districts namely Mandi, Kangra, Hamirpur, Bilaspur and Una on pilot basis since 2011, has virtually transformed the economy of the farmers in these districts.
He said that the main objective of this project was to disseminate a successful model of crop diversification and increase the vegetable area in the project area from 2500 hectares to 7000 hectares by 2031.
 He said that in order to fulfil the vision and commitment towards rapid development of the State, the government was mobilizing resources from all possible sources including central government, external funding agencies like JICA, World Bank and Asian Development Bank etc.
“The state government considers JICA to be the most important source of financial support and partner in the development of the State.  There is a huge potential for cultivation of off-season vegetables in this region and the state government has created a strong network of market yards to ensure remunerative prices to the farmers. Still a lot more such Mandis were required in the State so that farmers could have easy access for marketing their products and getting better prices,” said CM.
Jai Ram Thakur said that both India and Japan have developed systems of sustainable production instead of bulk production of food grains. The United Nations has also set goals for sustainable development which were to be achieved by 2030.  The government of Himachal Pradesh has institutionalized the sustainable development goals by supporting them in the budgetary and planning process and the State looks forward to meeting these goals in a record time.
The Chief Minister said that the state is grateful to the government of Japan and the government of India for leading the way for the prosperity of the farmers of this hilly state in the agricultural sector since 2007.  He also congratulated the management and staff of JICA project phase-I for their good work and thanked them for their active support and guidance by sending delegations from many Asian countries to see the project.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated the exhibition and released a few publications regarding success stories of the first phase of the project on the occasion.
A documentary film on JICA was also screened on the occasion.
The Chief Minister honoured progressive farmers Ram Singh, Yangesh Kumar, Kishori Lal, Sandla Devi, Sohan Lal, Baldev Singh, Promila Devi, Summu Kumar, Purnima Kumari, Dulash Thakur and Hoshiyar Singh for making outstanding achievements in JICA project.
Guest of Honour at the dedication ceremony and chief representative of JICA-India SAITO Mitsunori ,Agriculture, Rural Development and Panchayati Minister Virender Kanwar , Chief Project Advisor Dr. J.C. Rana, Secretary Agriculture Dr. Ajay Kumar Sharma ,Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Sarveen Chaudhary, Forests, Youth Services and Sports Minister Rakesh Pathania, MLAs Arjun Thakur, Vishal Nehriya, Mulk Raj Premi, Arun Kumar and Hoshiyar Singh, Chairman Woolfed Trilok Kapoor, former MLAs, representatives of JICA Japan,ws Deputy Commissioner Kangra Dr. Nipun Jindal and senior officers of State Agriculture department were present on the occasion