Karnataka - Belgaum   

Horticulturists told to make use of NHM

Belgaum: The Horticulture Department has urged horticulturists and entrepreneurs to make use of the benefits of the National Horticulture Mission (NHM).

In a press release issued here on Monday, Deputy Director of Horticulture K.B. Dundi said that the Government provided financial assistance up to 50 per cent of the cost of the project along with subsidy to boost horticulture in the district.

The benefits were available under three components categorised as marketing, processing and project, the official said.

He said that a maximum of 25 per cent of financial assistance of the cost of the project up to Rs. 24 lakh and a subsidy of a maximum of Rs. 6 lakh would be provided for establishing fruit/vegetable primary processing units. The same benefit had been extended to units extracting oil from medicinal and aromatic plants.

For establishing an onion-storage unit with a project cost limited to Rs. 2 lakh, the Government would provide 25 per cent financial assistance and up to Rs. 50,000 subsidy, he said.

Similarly, financial assistance of 25 per cent along with a maximum subsidy of Rs. 4 lakh for establishing mushroom drying unit (project cost up to Rs.16 lakh) would be given, he said.

He said that 50 per cent of financial assistance and a maximum subsidy of Rs. 4 lakh would be given for establishing a tissue-culture rejuvenation laboratory (cost of the project Rs. 8 lakh).

For establishing a lead tissue analysis laboratory (cost of project up to Rs. 20 lakh), the financial assistance and maximum subsidy available were 50 per cent and Rs. 10 lakh, 50 per cent of financial assistance and a maximum subsidy of Rs. 40 lakh for establishing bio-control laboratory in the private sector (cost of the project up to Rs. 80 lakh), 25 per cent financial assistance and a maximum subsidy of Rs. 50 lakh for establishing a cold storage plant.

Also, financial assistance of 25 per cent and a maximum subsidy of Rs. 25 crore (cost of project up to Rs. 100 crore) would be provided for establishing a wholesale market development unit, the official said.

That apart, various market-related activities (cost of project up to Rs.15 lakh) were entitled to get financial assistance, he said.

Mr. Dundi said subsidy could be taken by farmers, organisations, societies, non-governmental organisations, entrepreneurs, cooperative bodies, trusts, agricultural sciences graduate, and self-help groups for “credit linked” projects.

He said that the climatic condition of the district was conducive for horticulture. Many farmers were taking advantage of the growing prospects in the horticulture sector and benefits provided under the National Horticulture Mission by cultivating mango, grape, pomegranate and banana.

To make use of the benefits under the National Horticulture Mission, those interested may approach the Department of Horticulture with a detailed project report, he said.

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