Chandigarh, July 23 — Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana announced that the state government will construct a large cold storage facility in every district. The initiative aims to prevent spoilage of fruits and vegetables and ensure better market prices for farmers. He instructed officials to expedite the implementation of this plan and warned that delays in fulfilling budgetary promises made during the 2025-26 financial statement would not be tolerated, adding that accountability would be enforced in case of lapses.
Rana chaired a meeting of horticulture and associated department officials at his office today. During the session, he reviewed the status of horticulture-related budget announcements in detail. On inquiring about the proposed high-tech kinnow fruit processing and packaging plant in Sirsa, officials informed him that three acres of land had been earmarked by the Haryana Dairy Development Cooperative Federation and that the draft of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared. Further steps will be initiated soon.
He was also informed about upcoming high-tech processing and packaging units for guava in Hisar and Fatehabad, along with new market facilities, with groundwork set to begin shortly.
Regarding the announcement to establish 2,000 new Har-Hit stores in the state, the Minister was told that 1,805 agreements have already been signed, and 1,284 stores are now operational.
When questioned about periodic inflation-based revisions in compensation under the “Mukhyamantri Bagwani Bima Yojana,” officials said the department is formulating a “Horticulture Policy” which will address this concern as part of its framework.
Rana emphasized the need to promote solar-powered cold storage systems to reduce operational costs and increase profits for farmers and entrepreneurs. Under the scheme, the department offers a 35% subsidy for establishing cold storages with a capacity of up to 5,000 metric tons. The subsidy ranges between ₹1.68 crore to ₹2.10 crore per beneficiary.
He further directed officials to encourage the cultivation of crops that require less water and fewer chemical inputs. This, he said, would not only conserve water but also reduce the spread of diseases linked to chemical-heavy food.
The Minister was updated that farmers are currently receiving a subsidy of ₹30,000 per acre for cultivating turmeric, garlic, and ginger, and ₹15,000 per acre for other spices such as coriander and fenugreek.
He also reviewed department efforts in beekeeping and mushroom farming, noting the state’s commitment to diversifying agriculture.
Minister Rana concluded by reaffirming that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, the Haryana government is making continuous efforts to improve farmers’ economic conditions by implementing schemes aimed at reducing input costs and enhancing income.
