Uttarakhand’s Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan

• 30 May 2025

Why in News? 

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the "Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan" in Guniyal village, Dehradun, on 29th May 2025.  

Key Points 

• About the Campaign: The campaign will run from 29th May to 12th June 2025. 
  • It will cover 95 development blocks, 670 Nyaya Panchayats, and 11,440 villages in Uttarakhand. 
  • The state has deployed three teams per district, each conducting programs at three locations daily to engage over 600 farmers per program. 
• Objectives: 
  • To empower farmers through scientific knowledge, modern agricultural practices, and awareness about government schemes. 
  • To help farmers adopt advanced agricultural techniques tailored to their soil, land, and climate conditions. 
  • To train farmers in selecting profitable crops based on soil testing and scientific guidance. 
  • To document farmers’ traditional knowledge and innovations, making future agricultural research more practical and locally relevant. 

Government Support Schemes 

• State Government Schemes: 
  • The Uttarakhand government is providing interest-free loans up to ₹3 lakh to farmers. 
  • A subsidy of up to 80 percent is being offered for the purchase of agricultural machinery through the Farm Machinery Bank Scheme. 
  • Farmers are receiving a bonus of ₹20 per quintal on wheat procurement. 
  • The rate of sugarcane has been increased by ₹20 per quintal. 
  • Canal irrigation has been made completely free for farmers in the state. 
• Special Agricultural Initiatives in Uttarakhand: 
  • Organic and Aroma Farming: 
    • The state is converting tea gardens in Dhauladevi, Munsiyari, and Betalghat into organic tea-producing areas. 
    • Six aroma valleys are currently being developed to promote high-value aromatic crops. 
  • Budgetary and Project Allocations: 
    • In the 2025 budget, ₹200 crore has been allocated specifically for the construction of polyhouses. 
    • A ₹1,000 crore project named the Uttarakhand Climate Responsive Rain-Fed Farming Project has been approved to promote farming in hilly and rain-fed regions. 
  • New Crop Policies: 
    • The state has launched several new initiatives, including the Apple Policy, Kiwi Policy, State Millet Mission, and Dragon Fruit Policy. 
    • These policies are supported by a total investment of ₹1,200 crore to diversify and strengthen the horticulture sector. 
• Central Government Initiatives:  
  • Central schemes like the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, Crop Insurance Scheme, Kisan Maandhan Yojana, and Soil Health Card initiative are also implemented in the state.  
  • Additionally, programs such as the Horticulture Development Mission, Agricultural Machinery Subsidy, Drip Irrigation Scheme, and Digital Agriculture Mission are promoted to support farmers.