Government approves Rs 343.46 lakh under NHM

Orange, banana, pepper, ginger crops to get support from the mission

 
The proposal was submitted through National Horticulture Directorate to the Centre, said Horticulture department Deputy Director Shakeel Ahmed to Deccan Herald.

About Rs 106.13 lakh has been approved to support banana, pepper, ginger and floriculture in 930 hectare land. The government has also approved revival of orange in 1,000 hectare land at an estimated cost of Rs 112.5 lakh.

He said Government has approved Rs 9.80 lakh for protected cultivation, Rs 49.5 lakh towards maintaining diseases, Rs 5 lakh for organic farming, Rs 2.4 lakh for training, Rs 10 lakh for api culture, Rs 30.63 lakh for protection of horticulture crops.

The department has decided to develop orange crops in 1,000 hectare land. The department will supply 2.40 lakh orange grafts. Government has approved the tender process. The grafts and other materials will be distributed to the beneficiaries within a week.

Shakeel said if the lists of beneficiaries have been submitted by the gram panchayat on the recommendations of the elected representatives, then grafts of orange will be distributed.

Extension project

He said under area extension project, pepper will be grown in 355 hectare. Under the project, eligible beneficiaries will be given Paniyooru-1 variety of pepper creepers and other materials. Banana will be grown in 260 hectare land. To control kole roga in arecanut, pepper and ginger copper sulpahate will be distributed with 50 per cent financial assistance.

“In some places, owing to the low quality of soil and deficiency of boron, the yield has been declined.

In this background, to increase the yield nutrients for various crops will also be distributed in the future,” he added.

Under organic farming mission 50 per cent financial assistance will be given for wormi compost unit and rasasaara unit.  The beneficiaries will be given a maximum financial assistance of Rs 16,000 for bee hives.

About 25 per cent financial assistance will be given for pepper. If beneficiaries submits a report to avail loan from the banks, the proposal will be submitted to the Centre.

Under National Medicinal plants mission, opportunity will be given for growing amla, kokum and sandalwood. “If we get demand from the beneficiaries, then we will distribute the plants,” he added.