In a strategic push toward rural development and effective implementation of state budget promises, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday conducted a comprehensive review of the 2025-26 budget announcements across various departments. Special emphasis was laid on addressing the challenges of hill agriculture in Morni and promoting sustainable livelihood opportunities through horticulture and dairy development.
Speaking at the meeting held in Chandigarh, the Chief Minister instructed the Agriculture and Farmersโ Welfare Department to gather on-ground feedback from farmers in hilly terrains like Morni to identify and resolve farming-related issues on priority. He said the department should not only understand local challenges but also ensure targeted support for boosting crop yields. Saini further directed the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board to explore the feasibility of setting up small collection centres to facilitate the transportation of horticultural produce to nearby markets.
In line with the stateโs commitment to promoting organic and nature-based agriculture, Chief Minister Saini reviewed the departmentโs progress on expanding natural farming practices. He emphasized the target of bringing one lakh acres under natural farming during the current financial year. Reinforcing Prime Minister Narendra Modiโs vision of environmentally sustainable agriculture, the Chief Minister asked officials to ramp up efforts to spread awareness and encourage more farmers to switch to natural farming methods. He also suggested setting up additional testing and research laboratories to support these initiatives.
Highlighting the importance of horticulture as a supplementary source of income for farmers, Saini directed the Horticulture Department to expedite the implementation of various income-boosting schemes. He stressed the need for fast-tracking the rollout of Haryanaโs new horticulture policy. During the meeting, it was revealed that the department currently operates 11 Centres of Excellence, with three more under construction. This yearโs budget includes provisions for three new centres: one for date palms in Barwala (Hisar), one for lychees in Nabipur (Ambala), and another for strawberries in Chhachhrauli (Yamunanagar), all of which are currently at different stages of development.
Addressing employment generation, the Chief Minister called for an increase in the number of Vita booths across the state. These dairy retail outlets, he noted, not only provide accessible dairy products to the public but also serve as a vital source of local employment. The expansion of Vita booths would create multiple self-employment opportunities and reinforce the stateโs rural economic base.
In a detailed review session, Saini evaluated the budget execution status of several departments including Agriculture, Horticulture, Vita, Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board, Haryana Warehousing Corporation, and the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Department. He issued clear directives to all departments to expedite the implementation of announced schemes and meet the prescribed deadlines without delays.
The Chief Minister reiterated that policies must be implemented with the same spirit in which they are drafted so that the intended beneficiaries โ the farmers and rural communities โ can avail maximum advantage. He underlined that measurable outcomes and timely delivery are critical for reinforcing the governmentโs credibility.
Senior officials present at the review meeting included Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, Principal Secretary to CM Rajesh Khullar, Additional Principal Secretary to CM Dr. Saket Kumar, Finance Secretary Mohammad Shayin, Animal Husbandry Commissioner Vijay Dahiya, Marketing Board Administrator Mukesh Ahuja, and Agriculture Director General Raj Narayan Kaushik, among others.
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