The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Time ripe for horticulture

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Thursday, Jul 19, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Time ripe for horticulture

Staff Reporter

No need for investment, we’ll take care, says Collector

KADAPA: Farmers can raise horticultural plantations without making personal investments, District Collector M.T. Krishna Babu said on Wednesday.

The Government has been extending 50 per cent to 70 per cent subsidy depending on horticultural crop varieties and 30 per cent more subsidy under Andhra Pradesh Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, he said in the valedictory session of a three-day training programme on State Horticulture Mission and drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. The Government would bear the costs of tilling the land, digging pits and supply of fertilisers, he said.

Precautionary measures

Mr. Krishna Babu exhorted officials to enlist farmers interested in raising horticultural plantations. Some companies may dubiously induce farmers to take up cultivation assuring cent per cent subsidy, he said. Selection of farmers should be systematic in order to avert such instances.

Farmers should be encouraged to raise crops basing on market conditions and farmers whose lands have irrigation facility should raise sweet lime crop, he said. Precautionary measures were needed to ensure that farmers did not abandon the crop due to fall in prices.

Farmers should be created awareness on post-harvest management and cold storage facilities. The Government is exploring the scope for introducing companies such as Safal in the district.

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