Latest news with #Horticulture
India Gazette
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Haryana CM launches 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan' from Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra (Haryana) [India], May 29 (ANI): As part of the nationwide Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini launched the state-level campaign from Kurukshetra on Thursday. According to an official release, the objective of the campaign is to improve the agricultural sector by connecting farmers with new technologies, schemes, and innovations. It aims to educate farmers on scientific techniques for Kharif crops, highlight the importance of soil health cards, and provide access to government schemes and policies. Through direct interaction with farmers, feedback will be gathered to guide future agricultural research. This campaign, running across the state until June 12, is a testament to the government's commitment to empowering farmers. Addressing farmers from across the state at a joint event organised by Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries, and Animal Husbandry along with ICAR at Kurukshetra University campus, CM Saini said that India has achieved self-reliance in food grain production due to the hard work and dedication of its farmers. He emphasised that this campaign will turn every farmer into a policy participant and an innovation partner and it is not just a program, but a public movement that will be a major step toward empowering farmers with knowledge, innovation, and technology. 'It is a triveni, where agricultural scientists, officers from agriculture and allied departments, and farmers will engage in direct dialogue,' he said. The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi considers farmers the backbone of his vision for a Viksit Bharat. A developed, strong, and prosperous India is only possible when our farmers are self-reliant. He stated that under this mega campaign, more than 2,000 teams of agricultural scientists and officers have been formed across the country. These teams will visit villages and directly interact with around 1.5 crore farmers - making it the largest outreach programme in the history of Indian agriculture. During the campaign, farmers will receive advice based on local climate, soil, and crop conditions. The Chief Minister said that Haryana is an agriculture-dominated state, but faces challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, declining soil fertility, and changing market demands. The Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan will empower farmers to address these issues. It will act as a bridge from lab to land, bringing agricultural research directly to the farmers' fields. Scientists, officers, and progressive farmers will work together to cover 1,380 villages and 109 blocks across the state. He added that digital tools have revolutionised farming. During the campaign, information about digital technologies will also be shared to help farmers transition towards smart agriculture while retaining traditional methods. The Chief Minister said the Haryana government is consistently launching farmer-friendly welfare schemes. The state has given a bonus of Rs. 2,000 per acre for Kharif crops, amounting to Rs 1,345 crore, a first in Haryana's history. The long-standing colonial-era system of abiyana has been abolished, and pending dues worth Rs133 crore have been waived. He said the compensation policy for high-tension electricity lines passing through farmland. Farmers are now entitled to 200 percent of the market rate for tower area land and 30 percent for land under power lines. Additionally, the government has granted ownership rights to tenant farmers. The Chief Minister called on farmers to switch from water-intensive crops to alternatives and adopt natural farming practices, which are essential for today's environmental needs. He echoed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to conserve every drop of water and promote micro-irrigation. He urged farmers to turn this campaign into a people's movement and take decisive steps toward making India a developed nation once again. Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister, Shyam Singh Rana said that the 15-day campaign aims to boost crop production by providing farmers with land-related information, benefits of government schemes, and a platform for voicing their concerns. Scientists will interact directly with farmers to understand and respond to their needs. Recently, 15 lakh farmers in the state received their soil test reports via mobile, giving them valuable insights into their farm health. He highlighted the success of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, which provides Rs 6,000 per year directly into farmers' accounts, with 19 installments released so far. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana ensures compensation for crop losses due to natural disasters, requiring farmers to pay only 1.5 percent to 2 percent of the premium while the government covers the rest. The Minister said that to tackle the issue of declining groundwater levels, the Mera Pani Meri Virasat scheme was implemented, under which farmers growing crops other than paddy receive Rs 8,000 per acre. 'The government also supports natural farming by offering Rs 30,000 per acre as a subsidy to purchase indigenous cows and providing assistance for drums used to make compost from cow dung,' said Shyam Singh Rana. During the event, CM Nayab Singh Saini released five departmental magazines and officially launched the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan poster prepared by ICAR by signing it. (ANI)
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Agriculture department to extend services to farmers in their villages
Camps organised under the Uzhavarai Thedi Velanmai-Uzhavar Nala Thurai, an initiative aimed at delivering agricultural services to farmers in the villages, got under way in the districts in central region on Thursday. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin virtually inaugurated from Chennai the scheme at Manickamangalam in Tiruvarur district. The scheme was announced in the Agriculture Budget for 2025-26. Officials in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and allied departments organised camps in the villages in the districts to assess the requirements of farmers and extend services to them. Farmers would be provided need-based inputs. The scheme camps would be held once every fortnight on the second and fourth Fridays in two villages each in every taluk. Apart from fulfilling the requirements of farmers, the camps would ensure that the government schemes reached them quickly, the officials said. In Pudukottai, Minister for Natural Resources S. Reghupathy and Minister for Backward Classes Welfare Siva V. Meyyanathan participated in the camps at Alavayal in Ponnamaravathy taluk and Senthakudi in Thiruvarankulam taluk respectively, and distributed assistance to farmers under various schemes. In Tiruchi district, Collector M. Pradeep Kumar and senior officials of the departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Agricultural Engineering, and Animal Husbandry participated in the camp held at Madhavaperumalkovil in Manachanallur taluk and distributed welfare assistance to farmers under various schemes. In Karur, Collector M. Thangavel, and MP S. Jothimani participated in the camp held at Vangal Kuppuchipalayam.
Daily Record
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Record
Ayrshire College horticulture students lend a hand at Alloway Railway Tunnel project
Students and staff designed, planned, procured and delivered a full planting scheme at the entrance to the tunnel. Horticulture students and staff from Ayrshire College completed a major planting scheme as part of an ongoing collaboration with the Alloway Railway Tunnel (ART) project. This latest initiative marks the first time Horticulture students, based at Dean Park in Kilmarnock, have been involved in the project. They designed, planned, procured and delivered a full planting scheme at the entrance to the tunnel. The team, which included lecturer Francis McCaughey and Horticultural Technician Mark Haining, worked with volunteers across two days to plant a wide variety of shrubs, climbers and herbaceous perennials that will enhance the space over time. Shelagh McLachlan, Trustee at Alloway Railway Tunnel, said: "The planting project has been a tremendous team effort from the whole class. They have done a fantastic job transforming the environment and enhancing this area for walkers, cyclists and wheelers. "We are immensely grateful to all the students for their hard work and enthusiasm. It just shows what can be achieved when people come together, working in collaboration to make a lasting change." One of the key objectives of the ART project was to create opportunities for young people to gain relevant work experience that gives them a chance to put their skills and knowledge into practice and introduces them to a network of professionals working in the local area. Portraits of some of the students and staff who have worked on the project also feature in the Alloway Tunnel mural, which has been created by artist Chris Rutherford and is nearing completion. Chris Cowan, a Level 5 Horticulture student, said: "The project truly stood out to me. From the initial planning stages to the final execution, every moment was engaging and rewarding. The collaborative environment fostered creativity and allowed us to share ideas and learn from each other. I found the process to be both educational and enjoyable." Dan McDermott, a Level 5 Horticulture student, added: "It was a great exercise. I learned so much from a great lecturer and technician. It was planned well. I had a great time and can't wait to see the plants mature over the next few years." Ged Freel, Head of Learning & Skills - Engineering, Science, Motor Vehicle & Horticulture, added: "This type of hands-on experience is hugely beneficial for our students and it's particularly rewarding for them to be involved in a project of this scale that is so embedded in their local community." The ART project has involved several departments across Ayrshire College over the last two years, including business students who helped build a dedicated website, developed a business plan, created social media channels, organed a public consultation survey and other administrative tasks. Painting and Decorating students applied the base coat for the tunnel's mural; with Art and Design students adding vibrant detail by painting a bustling market scene. Graphic Design students captured local heritage by producing a short film on the Maybole boot industry and much of the project's progress has also been captured by HND Photography student Rosa Finucane.
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- New Indian Express
Property agent arrested for posing as government official, extorting 76-year-old woman
NEW DELHI: A 42-year-old property agent was arrested for posing as a government official and extorting a septuagenarian woman in South Delhi's Defence Colony area, police said on Saturday. The accused, Tausif Raja, is a graduate and worked as a property agent in the Shaheen Bagh area. A 76-year-old woman, a resident of Defence Colony, reported on Tuesday about an incident involving the extortion of Rs 1.75 lakh by an unknown person. In her complaint, she stated that on May 9, a person claiming to be an official from the Horticulture and MCD departments visited her residence. He alleged that the drains on her property were not clean and threatened that a challan of Rs 50,000 would be issued and their electricity meter would be disconnected. He then demanded Rs 25,000 as a bribe to settle the matter, a senior police officer said. When she refused to pay the bribe, the individual threatened to sabotage the marriage of her son. Out of fear, she handed over Rs 25,000 to the accused. On May 13, the same person returned and again threatened to disconnect the electricity meter and disrupt her son's marriage. This time, he demanded an amount of Rs 50 lakh. Out of fear, her husband complied with his instructions and delivered Rs 1.5 lakh in cash at the Modi Mill flyover, as directed by the accused, the officer said. Despite receiving the money, the accused continued to threaten the complainant's family and insisted on being paid the remaining amount. During the investigation, police analysed footage from over 100 CCTV cameras and examined the call detail records of the accused. Eventually, the accused was identified. A raid was conducted in Okhla, and he was arrested, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Ankit Chauhan said. One motorcycle, two mobile phones, and Rs 28,500 in cash were recovered from his possession, police added.
ABC News
7 days ago
- General
- ABC News
'Gnarly' bonsais are trending in the tiny tree world
The craft of cultivating bonsai evolved from Japan with a focus on minituarising trees and plants. Recent enthusiasm for the world of tiny trees is seeing Australia's native flora re-imagined as bonsai.
