Growth centres are a new concept and will be opened in all Nyay Panchayats of the state. So far 96 growth centres have been approved and in the future townships will be developed from these.
Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said this after inaugurating the building of agriculture business growth centre at Khyarsi village in Tehri district along with Tourism, Culture and Watershed Management minister Satpal Maharaj on Tuesday.
Rawat said that growth centres are being built as per the local resources. These will enable local farmers to sell their produce. The CM said, “The State Government is attempting to facilitate the sale of agricultural produce near the homes of farmers. With the opening of growth centres, the wholesalers and traders will be able to come here to buy the produce. The farmers will also get good rates for their produce.Prime minister Narendra Modi has taken a big decision in the interests of farmers.
Earlier, farmers could sell their produce only in the Mandi but now they can sell anywhere, which will also get higher rates to the farmers,” said Rawat.
Speaking about the Mukhyamantri Swarozgar Yojana (MSY) he said that self employment through about 150 different works is being facilitated under this scheme with subsidy ranging from 10 per cent to 25 per cent.
He said that 10,000 motorbikes will be given under tourism component of MSY with the state government paying interest for two years on the same. Soon, a scheme for 10,000 small solar power projects of 25 kilowatts each will also be brought out under the MSY, he said. The CM further pointed out that the limit of interest-free loan of up to Rs one lakh being provided to farmers under cooperatives so far has been increased to Rs three lakh. He also exhorted farmers to diversify and also focus on other aspects like cultivation of fruits according to climate and geography, bee keeping and fisheries.
The agri business growth centre inaugurated by Rawat has been built by watershed management directorate. This centre facilitates processing of agricultural produce of local farmers, farming equipment and investment availability. About 707 farmers of 36 villages have benefitted from selling their produce here.
