Dehradun, April 2 -- The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Uttarakhand Horticultural Board signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Wednesday to ensure supply of locally produced fruits and vegetables to ITBP battalions stationed in the state. The MoU was signed in the presence of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, at the his residence in Dehradun. The agreement falls under the Vibrant Villages Programme and seeks to promote procurement of fresh produce from local farmers for security forces deployed in Uttarakhand. Dhami described the MoU as a "significant step towards the holistic development of farmers, local producers and border regions of the state". He said the "initiative would ensure that ITBP personnel deployed in Uttarakhand receive fresh and nutritious fruits and vegetables sourced locally while also enabling farmers to get fair prices for their produce". The chief minister added that the "initiative reinforces the state government's commitment to promoting local products and providing farmers with a sustainable platform for marketing their produce". Under the arrangement, local produce will be supplied not only from remote border districts such as Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh and Champawat but also from Dehradun. Dhami said the "agreement would strengthen the economic condition of farmers in border areas and help address the challenges they face in accessing markets". He reiterated that the state remains committed to protecting farmers' interests while ensuring the welfare of soldiers. Officials said that under the Vibrant Villages Programme, an earlier arrangement between the Uttarakhand government and ITBP for procurement of local products had already yielded encouraging results....