Tribals told to take up horticulture cultivation

Rampachodavaram: The government was implementing many schemes for the uplift of tribals, ITDA Project Officer C Naga Rani said. Similarly, the government is also encouraging them to take up cultivation by distributing land to them in the Agency area, she added. Later, she examined satellite nurseries in Sarabhavaram and Devaram villages in Devipatnam mandal of East Godavari district on Thursday. Speaking on the occasion, Ms Naga Rani said that the tribals are getting a morale boost, thanks to the government schemes. She said that the government has brought a change in the lives of tribals by encouraging them to take up horticulture through employment guarantee scheme. She stated that the ITDA is taking steps to encourage the tribals to take up horticulture cultivation. She further stated that grafted cashew nut plantation has been taken up in 27 satellite nurseries in the Agency area as per the requirement of the tribal farmers. The ITDA is supplying quality grafted plants to increase the yield. The plan for horticulture was prepared with Rs seven crore in Sarabhavaram block and 11 bore wells would be drilled under Indira Jala Prabha scheme. She has called upon the beneficiaries to open bank accounts to avail the benefits from the government. Later, the Project Officer visited Devaram cashewnut nursery and gave suggestions to the farmers. Similarly, she told those farmers, who have taken up satellite nurseries, to get trained in making grafted plants as they have more demand.