Tamil Nadu - Salem   

Rs. 5.20 crore to develop horticulture production

Staff Reporter

It includes extending assistance to farmers

SALEM: The district administration is carrying out horticulture development activities to the tune of Rs. 5.20 crore under the National Horticulture Mission (NHM).

A Collectorate press release said that the NHM was aimed at improving the horticulture production and extending assistance to farmers for upgradation of technology for post-harvest management, processing and marketing.

In Salem district, horticulture crops were grown in an area of 63,781 hectares and the annual production was 13.399 tonnes.

Small nurseries

To improve the production, the district administration had taken up a number of activities including establishment of model and small nurseries, promotion of organic farming, setting up of greenhouses, development of orchards and integrated pest and fertiliser management under the NHM.

Besides, efforts were on to expand the cultivation area of horticulture crops such as mango, amla, banana, rose and various other flowers.

Mission panel

The horticulture department had already identified the beneficiaries for providing assistance under the scheme and received approval from the District Mission Committee, the release said.

The release said that the district was allotted Rs. 3.33 crore to promote micro irrigation this year. The department was encouraging farmers to go in for drip or sprinkler irrigation by providing subsidy.

Development programme

Meanwhile, the department was selecting beneficiaries for giving assistance under the integrated tribal development programme. Activities, including supply of high-yielding vegetable seeds, and planting materials, training and distribution of oil engines and micro irrigation systems would be taken up under the programme.

A sum of Rs. 14.325 lakh would be spent for carrying out these activities, the release said.

The district would distribute seeds of vegetables and spices at subsidised cost under the Integrated Horticulture Development scheme, the release said.

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