Tamil Nadu - Tirunelveli   

11 agro projects to be taken up in Tirunelveli district

Staff Reporter

Under National Horticulture Mission, says Assistant Director

TIRUNELVELI: The Department of Horticulture here, which has received Rs. 2.75 crore under National Horticulture Mission from the Government, has planned to execute 11 projects with subsidy during the current fiscal.

According to its Assistant Director G. Mohan, Rs. 3 lakh has been allocated for establishing nurseries by the government agencies on one hectare while Rs. 18 lakh has been earmarked for creating two nurseries by private parties on four hectares each.

If the private agencies want to establish small nurseries on one hectare, they would be encouraged to do so as the NHM has allotted Rs. 3 lakh for the purpose.

Since the NHM will concentrate on creating more amla farms in the district, Rs. 1.12 crore has been allotted, which would ensure the growing of new amla plantation on 1,000 hectare while banana would be cultivated on 150 hectare at a cost of Rs. 11.25 lakh. Cultivation of aromatic plants would be taken up on 25 hectares on an outlay of Rs. 2.81 lakh.

"A significant portion of the total allocation, Rs. 1 crore, would be spent for creating 10 community irrigation facilities in the district, which is known for reservoirs and irrigation tanks. In a bid to ensure better productivity, the NHM takes care of integrated crop protection management with an allotment of Rs. 13.70 lakh and another Rs. 10 crore for natural farming," he said.

For vermicomposting and pollination through honeybees, Rs. 1.10 lakh has been allotted.

All these 11 projects would be implemented in Palayamkottai, Pappakudi, Kalakkad, Nanguneri, Alangulam, Kadayanallur, Shencottai, Sankarankovil, Kuruvikulam and Melaneelithanallur areas and farmers from these regions may contact the horticulture officers concerned.

The department has so far distributed hybrid variety amla saplings to be planted on 510 acres of land to 343 farmers, who have established farms in new areas. Varieties such as AN-7, Sakkiya, Kanchan, Krishna and Bhavanisagar 1 are being obtained from various government research stations, Mr. Mohan added.

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