Govt to give subsidy for rejuvenation of crop orchards

Assistance given under various heads to help farmers in Dakshina Kannada district

The horticulture department is keen on implementing cashew rejuvenation programme under the National Horticulture Mission (NHM) despite lukewarm response last year.

The State government has released Rs 1 crore for the rejuvenation of 700 hectares of cashew orchards in Dakshina Kannada district. Though officials had received lukewarm response last year, they are confident of reaching more farmers this year.

A farmer can spend Rs 30,000 on his orchard and the government will provide 50 per cent subsidy to him. The farmer is entitled for subsidy if he takes up any one of the following work--pruning of trees, maintaining water and sand, catching pits, using pesticides to protect cashew trees, using micro nutrients or other inputs, gap filling by planting saplings, buying instruments for secatuer, pruning and sawing.

‘Bright future’

Assistant Horticulture Officer Channarasegowda, who has a target to distribute Rs 26 lakh for the rejuvenation of 175 acres of cashew farm in Surathkal, Gurupura, Mulki, Moodbidri and Mangalore (B) hoblis in Mangalore taluk in 2013-14, admitted that there is lack of awareness among farmers.

“The cashew industries in Mangalore are importing nut. There is no problem of market, but farmers have to show interest. We have tried to inform public about these schemes through gram sabhas,” he told Deccan Herald. 

As a result of the fieldwork by officials, now a few are coming forward to avail the benefits. Santhosh Shetty, a farmer from Kuthethoor who grows cashew, coconut, arecanut and paddy in his three acres, has decided to make use of the scheme.
 “I was used to traditional farming, but the officials have surveyed my land and suggested use of other pesticides to rejuvenate my farm and I think it will help me,” he said.

For areca and pepper

For the rejuvenation of pepper plantation (maximum of two hectares) farmers can get subsidy upto Rs 10,000. The scheme also offers subsidy on purchase of pesticides for fruit rot disease or other kind diseases which may affect arecanut plantation.

 For the purchase of copper sulphate, the farmer can get Rs 400 per acre and maximum of Rs 4,000 for 10 acres. Even from taluk panchayat, farmers can get a subsidy of Rs 800 per acre for copper sulphate (Rs 50,000 is earmarked for every taluk).

New orchards

The department is ready to give subsidy for farmers for new plantation. The department  is motivating farmers to follow high density plantation where 200 saplings can be planted in a hectare of land (one plant/4.5 metres). For the first year, the department would give Rs 12,000 as subsidy per hectare for planting the saplings. In the next two years, farmers can avail Rs 4,000 each as subsidy for the maintenance.    

Horticulture devt    

For 2013-14, the State government has earmarked Rs 152.18 crore for comprehensive horticulture development.  Under this scheme, the horticulture department will give subsidy upto Rs 30,000 for the preparation of vermicompost or for bio-digester (Rs 4,000 for one bio-digester and Rs 30,000 for 8).  

For farming equipment, a beneficiary can avail subsidy upto Rs 50,000 (to purchase equipment worth Rs 1 lakh). Along with this, under the coconut development programme, a farmer can get a subsidy upto Rs 17,000 per hectare for two years.

“We can supply neem powder upto 450 kg for a farmer, but he should pay 25 per cent of the total expenditure,” Channarasegowda said to Deccan Herald.        

What should farmers do?

* Submit the bill with TIN number
* Bill should be in the name of RTC or GPA holder
* Purchase equipment from approved companies
* Cooperate during the field survey
* Approach the department and clarify doubts
* Know about the limitations of the schemes