Anantapur emerging as horticulture hub of State

Anantapur: The ‘Mission Horticulture Hub’ envisaged by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to develop the district with a semi-arid climate registering an annual rainfall of less than 500 mm is catching up among the farmers despite the adverse climatic conditions and groundnut being its principal crop.

• Farmers keen on shifting from groundnut cultivation to raising fruit gardens as it is proving remunerative
• Govt also encouraging them by providing 75 per cent subsidy
• District drawing inspiration from Israel which is a major exporter of fruits despite recording annual rainfall of only 435 mm
• Horticulture crops were raised in 1.5 lakh hectares in Anantapur during 2015-16
• The fruits grown in the district are said to be the best, tastier and sweeter than fruits produced at other places

The district's extent of horticulture crops is nearly 1.50 lakh hectares (3.75 lakh acres) in the year 2015-16. Mango plantations are spread over 40,000 hectares, sweet oranges 40,000 hectares, banana 10,000 hectares, pomegranate 10,000 hectares, grape 500 hectares and vegetables in 30,000 hectares apart from sapota, guava and papaya in considerable extent.

Taking a clue from Israel, the district had been drawing inspiration from it as the country which registers only 435 mm of rainfall every year has emerged as the major fruit cultivator and exporter of horticulture products (fruits) to the world. The annual rainfall in Anantapur district is anywhere between 500 to 565 mm and is climatically in a better position than Israel.

The extent of groundnut crop in the district is around 25 lakh acres. More and more farmers are calling it quits to groundnut cultivation which is subject to vagaries of nature and are turning to horticulture crops including fruits and vegetables. The district officials from the departments of horticulture, minor irrigation, DWAMA and other stakeholders under the leadership of Collector Kona Sasidhar are racing against time to pull the district out of the clutches of drought and to banish drought conditions permanently from the district by developing horticulture crops.

The subsidy being provided by the government is a major motivating factor for the farmers to partly divert to horticulture. With the government extending 75 per cent subsidy and the demand for fruits going up the world over, the farmers thinking has changed from the traditional to commercial lines.

The farmers’ views have changed during the last 10 years. From being confined to the traditional groundnut crop to growing commercial horticulture crops and even venturing into new ones like capsicum and strawberries which are actually hill station crops. The farmers have graduated from being timid to venturing into any new crop which is impossible to grow in hot climatic conditions.

Deputy Director of Horticulture B S Subba Rayudu talking to The Hans India opines that for the district to emerge as a horticulture hub, many steps have to be taken on the infrastructure front. Already the district is on top in horticulture in the State going by the figures of extent of acreage of crops. One major challenge is the marketing of the produce and fixing of Minimum Support Price (MSP).

The fixing of MSP by the government for different fruits will ensure minimum guaranteed price. The major impediment to a targeted achievement is the non-availability of water. If the Handri-Neeva project which promises around 40 tmcft of water to the district is completed soon, things would change. Apart from ensuring water availability for irrigation purpose, the groundwater levels would get a boost. If borewells are rejuvenated, the idea of emerging as a State horticulture hub will be a reality.

The other factors include establishment of collection centres, cold storages and development of e-marketing and setting up of processing units on the lines of Chittoor district would go a long way in the direction. If export markets are to be created, awareness needs to be created among farmers on grading of products and scientific packing methods. A small country like Israel which is smaller than Anantapur district and registering far less rainfall than the district is able to export horticulture produce worth $ 2 billion to United States and other European countries.

The gross value addition (GVA) of horticulture produce from the district is around Rs 4,067 crore every year. The Department of Horticulture is promoting horticulture in the district under the ‘Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture' funded by the Union government. It is also doing a great deal in rejuvenation of old orchards through micro-irrigation projects.

Promotion of protected horticulture in the form of poly houses, green houses and digging of nearly 1.50,000 farm ponds both by DWAMA and horticulture departments is also contributing to recharging of groundwater and also in developing the district as a horticulture hub.

District Collector Kona Sasidhar observed that the income generated through 10 per cent GVA in horticulture is higher than 90 per cent GVA in agriculture. For the same reason the farmers are showing interest to shift from agriculture to horticulture. The fruits grown in the district are said to be the best, tastier and sweeter than fruits produced outside.