हिंदी
CM launches Rs. 2,738-Crore Sustainable Horticulture Promotion Project, Lays Foundation Stone of Haryana Agri-Business and Cold Chain Centre
402 Pack Houses and 4 Lead Pack Houses to be Established Across Haryana; Horticulture Farmers to Benefit Significantly
Farmers to Gain Access to World-Class Research and Technology Through Collaboration with Japan’s Kochi University
Plants Sapling Under ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ Campaign on World Environment Day
Chandigarh, 5 June 2026
Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini on Friday said that farmers, youth, women and modern technology will play a pivotal role in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat–2047. He said that making Haryana the country’s leading state in horticulture, agri-business, cold chain infrastructure, food processing and agricultural exports is among the government’s top priorities.
Calling for collective action, the Chief Minister urged all stakeholders to work together towards making agriculture more sustainable, modern and profitable, transforming water conservation into a mass movement, and ensuring a clean and healthy environment for future generations.
The Chief Minister was addressing a programme organised in Panchkula on the occasion of World Environment Day, where he launched the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded Sustainable Horticulture Promotion Project worth Rs. 2,738 crore and laid the foundation stone of the Haryana Agri-Business and Cold Chain Centre. He said both initiatives would not only enhance farmers’ incomes but also serve as milestones in transforming Haryana’s agricultural ecosystem into a modern, sustainable and high-value sector.
Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Sh. Shyam Singh Rana was also present on the occasion. Earlier, both leaders planted saplings under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign launched by Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi and visited an exhibition organised by the Horticulture Department. An environmental conservation pledge was also administered during the event.
Among those present were JICA Chief Representative Takeuchi Takuro, First Secretary (Food and Agriculture) Hayase Takehiko , and British Deputy High Commissioner Alba Smeriglio. All three dignitaries appreciated the Haryana Government’s initiatives aimed at strengthening the agricultural sector and improving farmers’ welfare.
Addressing farmers, the Chief Minister said that the day marked not merely the launch of two projects but the beginning of a new chapter for Haryana’s agriculture, environment and rural economy. He expressed confidence that Haryana would once again show the way to the nation and lead a horticulture and agri-business revolution, just as it had spearheaded the Green Revolution decades ago.
He said that while Haryana had played a defining role in ensuring India’s food security through the Green Revolution, changing climatic conditions, declining groundwater levels, rising cultivation costs and shrinking landholdings now necessitate diversification. He said horticulture, fruits, vegetables, spices, medicinal plants, floriculture, mushroom cultivation and beekeeping offer immense opportunities for farmers to increase their incomes.
The Chief Minister announced that to address waterlogging and soil salinity issues in several districts, the government would undertake plantation activities on 1,000 hectares of waterlogged land this year using biodrainage technology, thereby restoring the land for agricultural use. In addition, 25 new water storage dams will be constructed and 25 existing dams renovated in the Shivalik and Aravalli regions to strengthen groundwater conservation efforts.
402 Pack Houses and 4 Lead Pack Houses to Be Established
Highlighting the Sustainable Horticulture Promotion Project, the Chief Minister said that nearly 20–30 per cent of fruits and vegetables currently perish before reaching markets. The project seeks to address this challenge through the development of robust post-harvest infrastructure.
Under the initiative, 400 horticulture clusters will be developed, 500 producer groups will be organised and strengthened, and infrastructure including 402 pack houses, four lead pack houses, three fulfilment centres and 44 retail outlets will be established. The project also envisages the construction of 1,000 rainwater harvesting structures and the expansion of micro-irrigation systems to cover 65,000 acres.
He said the project would strengthen the entire farm-to-market value chain and enable farmers to realise better prices through a modern cold chain network. Advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, real-time monitoring systems, soil and water analysis, digital agricultural advisory services, Internet of Plants, geospatial technology, e-marketing and modern packaging solutions will be integrated into the project.
The Chief Minister further informed that knowledge and research exchange between Maharana Pratap Horticultural University, Karnal and Kochi University, Japan, would provide farmers with access to world-class technologies and technical expertise. Agriculture, he said, is no longer limited to cultivation but has evolved into a major business sector where drones, Artificial Intelligence, data analytics, smart sensors, digital marketing and e-commerce play a critical role.
Youth Should Become Job Creators
Calling upon the youth to embrace entrepreneurship, the Chief Minister urged them to become employment generators rather than job seekers by exploring opportunities in agri-business, food processing, agricultural exports and allied industries.
He also underscored the importance of women’s participation in building a self-reliant Haryana, particularly in sectors such as horticulture, mushroom cultivation, beekeeping, food processing, packaging and marketing.
The Chief Minister said the Haryana Agri-Business and Cold Chain Centre would be developed as a world-class training hub for farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), entrepreneurs, start-ups and agricultural professionals. The centre is expected to benefit more than three lakh farmers directly and indirectly, improve supply chain efficiency by over 75 per cent and reduce post-harvest losses by 10–15 per cent.
He added that the adoption of international standards such as GAP, GMP, GHP and HACCP would further accelerate agricultural exports from the state.
Strong India–Japan Partnership Reflected in Haryana
Referring to India–Japan relations, the Chief Minister said that ties between the two countries span centuries and continue to deepen. Haryana currently hosts 394 Japanese industries and more than 600 Japanese business establishments, reflecting the strength of bilateral cooperation and friendship.
He expressed gratitude to the Government of Japan and JICA for their continued support in strengthening Haryana’s agricultural infrastructure and value chains.
Special Message on Environment Day
The Chief Minister said that environmental protection remains a key priority for the state government. Referring to a recent Memorandum of Understanding signed in Morni for promoting natural farming, he said the partnering company has proposed cultivation of crops such as ginger and chilli on nearly 4,000 acres of agricultural land, creating new income opportunities for farmers.
Referring to the Prime Minister’s call for fuel conservation in view of global developments, including the evolving situation in the Middle East, he said the Haryana Government is actively promoting sustainable transport solutions. Electric buses have already been introduced, and an additional fleet of 780 electric buses will be inducted in 2026 to strengthen clean public transportation.
Sharing details of the state’s environmental initiatives, he said that Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) have already been installed in 1,308 out of 1,349 industrial units in the NCR region to curb air pollution. Twenty-three new Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) are also being established across the state.
For the conservation of the Yamuna River, six Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) with a combined capacity of 133 MLD are currently under construction. Work is also underway for the upgradation of seven existing STPs and the construction of 11 new STPs. In addition, eight Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) with a total capacity of 147.5 MLD will be established for industrial wastewater management.
The Chief Minister appealed to every citizen to plant at least one tree and emphasised that respect for Mother Earth and environmental conservation must be transformed into a people’s movement.
Efforts Under PM Modi’s Leadership Enhancing Farmers’ Income- Shyam Singh Rana
Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Sh. Shyam Singh Rana said that the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign launched by Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi has generated unprecedented enthusiasm for environmental conservation across the country. Large-scale plantation drives are being undertaken in villages, schools and institutions, contributing significantly to ecological sustainability.
The Minister said India possesses enormous potential in horticulture and agriculture. He observed that while many governments have ruled the country since Independence, sustained efforts under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership to enhance farmers’ income and make agriculture more profitable have enabled India to achieve new milestones in agricultural production.
He said there was a time when India depended on imports to meet its food grain requirements, but the hard work of farmers and reforms in the agricultural sector have made the country self-sufficient in food production.
Reiterating the Haryana Government’s commitment to farmers’ welfare, he said farmers in the state are benefiting from schemes such as Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Bhavantar Bharpai. Haryana, he added, is among the leading states taking proactive and effective measures to address farmers’ concerns and requirements.
The Minister said that fruits and vegetables are highly perishable commodities and therefore require modern cold chain infrastructure for efficient storage and marketing. The Haryana Agri-Business and Cold Chain Centre is being established to meet this need, helping farmers secure better returns and reduce post-harvest losses.
He added that alongside agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and dairy farming remain important avenues for increasing farmers’ income, and the government is actively promoting these sectors through various schemes and interventions.
Additional Chief Secretary Home Department, Sh. Sudhir Rajpal, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, Sh. Vijayendra Kumar, Chairman Haryana State Pollution Control Board, Sh. Vinay Pratap Singh, Director General, Horticulture Department, Sh. Arjun Saini, Mayor, Sh. Shyam Lal Bansal, former Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Sh. Gian Chand Gupta and other distinguished guests also remained present on this occasion.
