The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Future bright for organic vegetable farmers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 12, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Future bright for organic vegetable farmers

S. Harpal Singh

State looking for mediator agencies to market the produce

Healthy trend: Vegetable cultivation in Adilabad district has created a lot of economic activity in the countryside and towns.

ADILABAD: The State government’s subsidy offer of Rs. 10,000 per hectare for promoting organic vegetable farming from next kharif will herald good times for vegetable growers in Adilabad who are already producing sufficient quantities for the district to be placed among top vegetable producers in Andhra Pradesh.

“Government intends to promote organic vegetable farming on a large scale. In addition to interested farmers, we are looking for some agency to play the mediator for marketing the produce,” says N.V. Ramana, Assistant Director of Horticulture, Adilabad. Vegetables are cultivated in about 16,000 hectares mainly in the mandals of Indervelli, Gudihatnoor and Ichoda.

Besides selling vegetables to purchasers from other States, farmers from these mandals even export their produce through some private agencies in the field.

Soil fertility

“The move augurs well for the vegetable farmer provided the subsidy is continued at least till three to four years after initiation of organic farming.

During such period, the soil will regain original fertility due to use of natural manures like vermicompost. Pest occurrence will be reduced simultaneously.

Also, the most important factor of finding market for the slightly ‘pricy’ organic produce will have to be done during that period,” says Githe Keshav, a large-scale vegetable farmer from Mannur in Gudihatnoor village. He not only cultivates cauliflower and cabbage the organic way, but also exports them to earn decent profits. The Horticulture Department will provide subsidy for cabbage, cauliflower, brinjal and chilli, etc.

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