Centre of Excellence in Horticulture inaugurated in Gignau under Indo-Israel Agriculture Project | Haryana | 23 Jan 2023

Why in News?

On January 22, 2023, Ambassador of Israel naor Gilon, who visited India, inaugurated the Semi-Arid Horticulture Excellence Centre built at a cost of About Rs. 12.5 crore in village Gignau in Loharu assembly constituency of Bhiwani district of Haryana.

Key Points

• Israeli Ambassador Naor Gilon said that the Centre of Excellence in Horticulture established under the Indo-Israel Agricultural Project in village village Gignau will also strengthen the democratic relations between the political relations of the two countries.
• The main objective of setting up semi-arid horticulture centres of excellence is to develop new resources in the agriculture sector, which will make the farmer happy.
• He said that now Israeli technology and knowledge is being transferred and manufactured in India, which is giving a further boost to the Make in India initiative. Through this center, Israel based farming techniques produced in India such as drip irrigation, mulching, green house etc. will be showcased.
• Naor Gilon said that more than 40 million plants of quality vegetables and five lakh plants of quality fruits are being produced in horticulture excellence centers built on Indo-Israeli technology in India. More than one lakh 20 thousand farmers are also getting training every year at these centers.
• Haryana Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister J.K.P. Dalal said that Despite being a small country, Israel is a leader in many areas including agriculture and security. Today, other countries are also adopting the technology of this country. Israel has made its country a paradise by making wasteland fertile and has given the whole world the technology of farming from drop to drop.
• He said that the budget for horticulture in Haryana has been increased by 100 times from Rs’ 8 crore to Rs 800 crore. A target has been set to set up 500 FPOs in the state.
• J. P Dalal said that by the year 2030, a target of horticulture has been set on 17 lakh acres of land. The world's largest vegetable market is being set up at Gannaur in Sonipat, which will be spread over 500 acres, which will cost 2.5thousand crores and will provide employment to thousands of people.
• He informed that to reduce the risk in horticulture, 'Mukhyamantri Horticulture Insurance Scheme' has been implemented, under this scheme 46 crops have been covered. Apart from this, 21 horticulture crops have been included under the 'Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana'.
• Minister J. P. Dalal said that the highest scheme for farmers in the country has been implemented in Haryana. The Centre of Excellence built in Gignaw will prove to be a milestone for the future of farmers as well as youth.
• In this center, the best quality variety of Guava, Almonds, Dates, Pomegranate, Pear, Citrus fruits, Plums, Dragon fruits, Red bald malta, Strawberries, Avocados etc. will be prepared. From this center, high quality vegetable plants will be available to the farmers at affordable rates.
• In this hi-tech greenhouse, 30 to 40 lakh plants of vegetables will be prepared. Apart from this, mother blocks are being prepared for fruit plantation.

'International Gita Mahotsav' to be the Theme of Haryana Tableau for Republic Day celebrations | Haryana | 23 Jan 2023

Why in News?

On January 22, 2023, Director General, Information, Public Relations and Language Department, Haryana, Dr. Amit Agarwal said that for the second consecutive time, haryana's tableau has been selected by the Special Committee of the Ministry of Defense for the second consecutive performance in the Republic Day celebrations on January 26, whose theme is 'International Gita Mahotsav'.

Key Points

• Dr. Amit Agarwal said that the process of selection of tableaux of states, union territories and ministries is started every year in the month of November by the expert committee constituted by the Ministry of Defense of the Government of India, in which all the states, union territories and ministries present their respective themes.
• The expert committee selects tableaux in a phased manner based on the relevance and usefulness of the theme. Last year also, haryana's sports achievements were presented to the country and the world in a powerful way through a tableau based on the theme of 'Number One Haryana in Sports'.
• Kurukshetra is known as one of the oldest pilgrimage sites in the world. Here the Vedas and Puranas were composed on the banks of the holy river Saraswati. About 5159 years ago, on the first day of the Mahabharata war, Lord Krishna gave the eternal message of Shrimad Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, so Kurukshetra is identified as the birthplace of The Gita.
• Dr. Amit Agarwal said that the anniversary of the birth anniversary of the immortal message of Gita is celebrated as International Gita Mahotsav every year in Kurukshetra. The 18 day long International Gita Mahotsav aims to spread the global and inspiring message of Shrimad Bhagwat Gita and enlighten the world with the message of peace, harmony and universal brotherhood.
• He said that in the year 2018, the Haryana government decided to celebrate International Gita Mahotsav in other countries with the aim of spreading the eternal message of Gita in other parts of the world and in the year 2019, for the first time, International Gita Mahotsav was organized in Mauritius and London. In the year 2022, the International Gita Festival was also celebrated in Canada.
• Director General of Information, Public Relations and Language Department said that the message of Gita presented on the tableau of Haryana in the Republic Day parade is the biggest intellectual gift to mankind. This eternal message of karma is exemplary for the entire humanity.
• He said that in the tableau, Lord Krishna is shown serving as Arjuna's charioteer and giving him the knowledge of Gita. The first glimpse of the tableau offers a glimpse of spirituality, art and history.
• At the beginning of the tractor section there are visions of Lord Krishna's 'Virata Swaroop', as he displayed in front of Arjuna on the battlefield. In the statue displayed in the form of Virat, the 9 heads of Shri Vishnu are shown as Agni, Narsingh, Ganesh, Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, Ashwini Kumar, Hanuman and Parashurama respectively. Divine serpents are covered with heads covered. Shri Vishnu holds sword, Trident, Lotus, Sudarshan Chakra in the right hand and Conch, Barchha, Bow, Nag, Mace etc. in his left hand. The entire bottom is shaped by Sheshnag and the waves have been given a circular shape.
• A grand chariot with four horses has been built in the Kurukshetra battlefield at the rear in the trailer section. Chariots, horses and all elements are depicted with in-depth detail. The idols riding on the chariot of Arjuna and Sri Krishna have been made colourful, while the rest of the trailer is made in the same earthly shadow. From horses to chariots and even the dust of the ground, every single detail is clearly visible in the tableau. The pattern on the edges of the trailer depicts various scenes from the Mahabharata war.

HPPC Meeting Held Under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister | Haryana | 23 Jan 2023

Why in News?

On January 21, 2023, a meeting of the High Powered Purchasing Committee (HPPC) was held in Chandigarh under the chairmanship of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal, in which the purchase of goods worth more than Rs. 92 crore was approved by various departments.

Key Points

• Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal informed that a total of 8 agendas of Irrigation, Police, Transport, Hartron, Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited were placed in the meeting, out of which 5 agendas were approved.
• He said that about Rs. 3 crore has been saved by fixing rates after negotiations with various companies.
• The Chief Minister said that the proposal to install de-knox combustion codification system to reduce pollution in thermal power plants has been approved. Apart from this, approval has also been given today to increase internet connectivity in various departments, boards and corporations in Haryana.
• He informed that e-Bhoomi portal has been created for the requirement of land for government projects, which is proving to be very effective. On this portal, information about the land requirement for projects is filled by the government and farmers and aggregators offer their land.
• The land is being purchased with the consent of the land owners after negotiations. So far, about 1000 acres of land has been procured through this portal.