Two mother nurseries will be developed in Kumaon and Garhwal regions of Uttarakhand to give a boost to walnut production in the state.
The Walnut Panchayat scheme will be implemented under National Horticulture Mission at the Panchayat level, an official release quoting Chief Minister Harish Rawat said here today.
A sub mission will be started for this and farmers will be given scientific training so that the production of walnut can be promoted, it said, adding a walnut development council will also be constituted.
Rawat said the program must start as a mission since the cash crop will improve the economy of farmers.
Farmers will be provided with high quality seeds from Jammu & Kashmir and abroad under the scheme.
Along with this, the locals will be provided with high level training for grafting of plants.
The CM said it is the effort of the state government to get the state at the first position in apricot production.
To achieve this, use of modern techniques in a scientific manner needs to be encouraged, he said.The CM assured all possible help in this direction.
Several special techniques will be adopted to increase walnut production and high yielding seeds will be developed at the mother nurseries.
Uttarakhand ranks second in the production of walnuts after Jammu and Kashmir.
"We can stand first if we all work towards it in unison," he said, a good receptive market will be ensured so that the produce of the farmers gets its due.
Walnut Panchayats will be linked to Mandis, he said.
Secretary Horticulture Nidhi Pandey said to increase the production of walnuts, the area will be developed on cluster concept.
So far, 32 clusters have been identified, eight in Almora, one each in Bageshwar, Pitthoragarh, Tehri and Rudrprayag, two in Dehradun, three in Pauri and 15 in Uttarkashi.
