Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur   

50,000 acres to be marked for horticulture

ANANTAPUR: Horticulture was expanding by about 20,000 acres every year in the district, Assistant Director of Horticulture Y. Vidyashankar stated here on Friday.

The department had prepared proposals with an outlay of Rs. 59 crore to develop horticulture in about 50,000 acres during 2008-09.

It would be developed in 30,000 acres under NREGS and the beneficiaries would be below poverty line families. They would be given 100 per cent subsidy for taking up horticulture in their lands.

The remaining 20,000 acres would be developed in lands of above poverty line families with 70 per cent subsidy under the National Horticulture Mission, he told reporters here.

Interested farmers could apply for availing the scheme in the mandal offices concerned by March 25, he stated. The farmers who had taken up horticulture under NHM during the current financial year (2007-08) were suggested to open bank accounts in their nearest SBI, Syndicate Bank, Andhra Bank and APGB branches to get the subsidy credited to their accounts.

They would be given subsidy for fruit plants as well as inter-crop and water management methods like drip irrigation. The department was encouraging use of bio and organic fertilizers as the international market demands were specifying zero chemical residues in the horticulture produce exports.

Farmers who had taken up mango plantation would also be helped to improve the breed of low-yielding plants/trees.

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