The Hindu : Kerala News : Rs.65-lakh project to promote strawberry cultivation in Munnar

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Saturday, Jul 12, 2008
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Kerala

Rs.65-lakh project to promote strawberry cultivation in Munnar

A Correspondent

Project to provide hybrid plants to small-scale farmers

Three nurseries will be set up in Munnar to develop hybrid varieties of saplings
Collection centres will be set up to ensure remunerative prices for farmers

KATTAPPANA: The Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj has a drawn up a Rs.65-lakh project to promote strawberry cultivation in Munnar. The project aims to supply hybrid varieties of the plant to small-scale farmers.

The project is expected to increase the cultivation and marketing facilities for strawberry, for which there is a favourable climate in Munnar. It is the only place in Kerala where strawberry is cultivated, and many farmers are involved in it.

As part of the project, Union government representatives—Dr. Simon Holland and K. Jitendra—had held talks with gram panchayat president Y. Nadarajan recently. Mr. Nadarajan said under the plan, the Centre will provide Rs.25 lakh, horticulture mission Rs.25 lakh and Munnar gram panchayat Rs.5 lakh. The rest will be covered under a bank loan. Munnar gram panchayat will be the implementing agency for the project.

Strawberry cultivation started catching up in Munnar when a woman self-help group started marketing strawberry essence in branded bottles. It was found that there is a high demand for this product.

As part of the project, three nurseries will be set up in Munnar to develop hybrid varieties of saplings. “Strawberry being an item of different varieties, the most suitable and high-yielding variety for climate of Munnar will be developed,” sources said.

Good response from farmers is one of reasons why this project is being initiated. The USA is the largest producer of strawberry followed by Spain.

Strawberry cultivation will be spread to areas like Kannimala, Cholamala, Periyavara, Kallar and Thalayar. “September is the season for planting the saplings and before that at least 100 saplings each to thousand farmers will be distributed,” said Nadarajan. Collection centres to ensure remunerative prices for farmers will also be set up, he said.

Farmers will be given details about proper care and steps followed for harvesting the produce. “Strawberry contains high level of calories and is rich in vitamin C. Marketing of the produce is not a problem as it has been already found,” he said.

“When fresh and high quality strawberry from Munnar reaches the market, new consumers will also opt for it,” he said.

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