PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
While participating virtually in the post-budget webinar chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, the State Agriculture minister Ganesh Joshi said that the Central government’s announcement to promote walnuts, almonds and pine nuts for the financial year 2026-27 would prove extremely beneficial for the farmers here. The webinar was organised to promote the production of nuts such as walnuts, almonds and pine nuts.
Expressing the State government’s gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Joshi said that under their guidance, simple and effective policies are being implemented to increase farmers’ income and develop the horticulture sector. “Uttarakhand is witnessing all-round development under the Pushkar Singh Dhami government with many transformative schemes being implemented for the development of horticulture here. These include ultra-intensive apple horticulture, Uttarakhand kiwi policy, dragon fruit farming, apple post-harvest management plan, beekeeping policy and state-of-the-art apple nursery development scheme,” he said.
He further said that currently, walnuts are cultivated on approximately 5,642 hectares across Uttarakhand, yielding approximately 8,995 metric tons, adding that the State’s geographical conditions are highly favourable for walnut and almond cultivation. “Moreover, these crops suffer minimal damage from wild animals and so this allows farmers to receive better prices,” he noted. The Agriculture minister said that he had directed officials to promote walnut cultivation on a cluster-based model and encourage the production of other nuts, including almonds. “Emphasis should also be placed on promoting improved varieties that yield more in a short period of time. Currently, 42,699 walnut and 630 almond saplings are available in the State’s nurseries. The State gardens and nurseries are being strengthened to produce quality fruit saplings so that saplings can be made available to farmers as per their demand,” he said.
