Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani announces 'Horticulture Development Mission'

In Gujarat, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani yesterday announced the ‘Horticulture Development Mission’ (Bagayat Vikas Mission). 

Addressing the press conference in Gandhinagar yesterday evening, Mr. Rupani said that the aim of this mission is to double the income of farmers involved in medicinal and horticulture farming. He said that under this mission, the waste land of the government will be given on 30-year lease for farming of horticulture and medicinal crops.

 

As per an estimate, the government has about 50,000 non-cultivated land waste lands. The government intends to convert this land into cultivation. A list of land blocks for land allotment in transparent manner will be released on I-Khedut portal. The government



will also offer priority assistance to lease owners for drip-sprinkler fountains.

 

The government has included Kutch, Surendranagar, Patan, Sabarkantha and Banaskantha districts in the first phase. Under this mission, a tax on land conversion will be waived off. Lease amount applicable will be Rs 100 to Rs 500 per year per acre during 6th to 30th year. Lease holders will be able to set up solar panel, windmills to generate energy for their own use, but will not be allowed to sell it. 

If land is returned before the end of the lease period, no compensation will be payable. Final decision on land allotment will be taken by a high power committee chaired by the Chief Minister.