JOIN USRs 4.81 crore comprehensive Horticulture Development Programme (CHDP) will be implemented in the district. This scheme is aimed at helping the farmers to grow banana, pepper, jackfruit and other plantations, said Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Dr K N Vijayaprakash.
Though the area under horticulture crops in Dakshina Kannada district is 98,000 hectares, the importance given to horticulture has drastically declined over the years. Hence the government had decided to promote horticulture among the farming community under CHDP, said the CEO.
He was delivering presidential address at a workshop on terrace gardening jointly organised by Vijaya Bank, Vijaya Rural Development Foundation and Yashaswini Magila Mandali at Government D.Ed College, Balmatta.
Even as Horti Clinics opened recently by the government are contributing for the promotion of horticulture, Horticulture Service Centers too will be opened soon.
In an initiative to create an awareness among the children about farming, 7631 students from DK will be given field exposure under Krishi Darshan, said Vijayaprakash.
“Compound walls will be built for 113 schools at a cost of Rs 5.41 crore this year and gardening and plantations will be developed in the second phase of the project. Steps will be taken to grow vegetables in the schools surroundings to provide healthy and nutrition food to the school children. As many as 842 children in the district suffer from malnutrition and they should be addressed,” stated Chief Executive Officer. He emphasised on the necessity to awake ‘horticulture/agriculture conscience’ among the people, specially residing in cities.
Vijaya Bank CMD Upendra Kamath who inaugurated the programme, gave a call for both men and women to join their hands in developing and promoting terrace gardening in cities.