Chandigarh, May 7 — Haryana’s Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana has directed officials to encourage farmers to adopt “vertical horticulture” to maximize income from shrinking land holdings. He emphasized that vertical gardening can help farmers earn more from limited space, thereby improving agricultural viability.
Rana was chairing the second General Body meeting of the Haryana State Horticulture Development Agency under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary of Agriculture and Horticulture Dr. Raja Sekhar Vundru, Horticulture Director General Ranbir Singh, department head Dr. Arjun Saini, and various agency members.
Highlighting the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Rana said the state government is committed to doubling farmers’ incomes. “Agriculture can tackle unemployment if made profitable,” he added. He urged officials to introduce modern farming techniques from Israel and Japan, enabling higher yields with minimal water and chemical use.
Rana advised full utilization of the budget allocated for horticulture in the state’s general budget and called for goal-based planning with timely execution. He stressed that subsidies must reach farmers promptly through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Officials informed the minister that nearly 400 vegetable and fruit clusters have been identified across Haryana, and grants for pack houses will be extended to farmers and farmer groups. The southern region of the state is being promoted for date palm cultivation due to low water requirements, with a subsidy of ₹1.60 lakh per hectare under the integrated scheme. Mushroom farming is also being expanded, especially in Sonipat district, with plans for similar initiatives in other regions.
Rana reviewed the financial performance of the MIDH scheme over the last three years, along with budget availability and expenditure across key areas like seed production, orchard development, maintenance, mushroom projects, horticulture mechanization, centers of excellence, and beekeeping.
During the meeting, he also listened to concerns from farmer members of the horticulture agency and directed officials to act positively on their suggestions. He further instructed that village panchayats be encouraged to plant fruit-bearing trees on community land.
