during this financial year for increasing production of horticultural
crops under the State Horticulture Mission (SHM).The Agriculture
Department has drawn up a plan to expand areas under horticultural
crops, increase production and set targets to enhance production of
various crops.This year, the district target under the SHM envisages
projects worth Rs. 4 crore that include development of nurseries and
gardens, extension of existing horticulture areas, replacement of
senile plants, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), organic farming, farm
mechanisation and rural market establishment.Agriculture Department
officials involved in the SHM schemes say that two nurseries—each of
pineapple and mushroom—will be set up in the district under the
scheme.Pepper will be extended to 250 ha, ginger 300 ha, turmeric 50
ha and cashew 500 ha. Rejuvenation of senile plants under the scheme
will cover 250 ha under cashew plants, 100 ha under cocoa and 500 ha
under pepper. Five projects for development of water resource
facilities have also been included in the plan, the officials add.The
IPM scheme will be implemented in 400 ha of pepper, 300 ha of ginger,
50 acres of vegetable gardens, 100 ha of pineapple and 200 ha of
banana.The plan also envisages organic farming of 50 ha of banana, 50
ha of vegetable and 100 ha of pepper. As many as 110 vermicompost
units and 1,750 bee-keeping units are planned here under the
SHM.Twenty mushroom cultivation units will be set up, each estimated
to cost Rs. 2.25 lakh. A sum of Rs. 14 lakh has been set apart for
farm mechanisation.The officials say that the achievement of the
projects under the SHM during the past three financial years was 53
per cent.
The Hindu, 15th December 2008
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