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Horticulture As Growth Enginee For Farm Sector In Bangaru Telangana
Highlights
Horticulture has over the years emerged as an indispensable part of Agriculture by offering wide range of crop diversification choices to farmers and providing
Horticulture has over the years emerged as an indispensable part of Agriculture by offering wide range of crop diversification choices to farmers and providing opportunities for sustaining large number of agro-industries which have created employment opportunities to semi-skilled and unskilled labour force. In fact, Horticulture as a sub-sector is a revelation - benefiting from an impressive base has shown remarkable signs of progress in Telangana.
Horticulture is identified as one of the growth engines in the farm sector. It has been identified as one of the “focus areas” for development of the state. Being traditionally rich with horticulture resources, the State having favourable climatic conditions suiting various horticulture crops, these resources are further blended with latest technology and practice to meet the global demand for qualitative produce, thus making a favour-able destination for global sourcing. Horticulture is a significant contributor to the Telangana State GSDP. Total area under Horticulture crops covers 10.86 lakh hectares with a total production of 112.56 lakh MTs. Major fruit crops in the state are Man¬go, Citrus, Banana, Guava and Papaya while vegetables like Tomato, Brinjal, Bhendi and various varieties of Gourds are predominant. Chillies, Turmeric and Coriander are important spices.
Coconut, Cashew and Oil palm constitute major plantation crops. The targeted area under Horticulture for the next five years (2018¬19) Action Plan is 14.48 lakh Ha, with estimated production of 152.31 lakh MTs. In India, under cultivated area Telangana ranks 3rd in fruits and 1st in Turmeric.
The Department of Horticulture is implementing various schemes with main thrust on core programmes to give a boost to horticulture sector and to tap available potential for the development of horticulture sector in the State. The major programmes are Micro Irrigation Project (MIP), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), National Mission for Oilseeds and Oil Palm Mission (NMOOP) and State Plan Schemes.
During the year 2014-15, an amount of Rs.452.75 crores were allotted for Promotion of horticulture Activi¬ties, beautification of Public Gardens and the construction of Poly houses in 1000 acres on 75% subsidy @ Rs.29.52 Lakhs per acre, limited to 3 acres per beneficiary during 2014-15.
State Horticulture Mission (SHM)
The State Horticulture Mission(SHM), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in November 2005 covers establishing of new gardens, rejuvenation, Integrated Pest Management(IPM) / Integrated Nutrient Man¬agement(INM), Post Harvest Management (PHM)etc., and training of farmers to substantially enhance their incomes.
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Though, the production is being increased multi-fold in Horticulture crops, the post harvest losses are around 30%-35% due to poor handling and storage. This need to be increased by utilizing available surplus produces. Processing and marketing through Agricultural Export Zones and private participation is to be encouraged in the potential regions.
An amount of Rs.28.30 Crores was utilized so far for implementation of various activities like Establishment of new gardens, Rejuvenation of senile gardens, IPM/INM, HRD, Organic farming, Farm mechanization and Post Harvest Management etc during 2014-15.
Post Harvest Management
Horticulture crops are highly perishable and require special attention on harvesting, handling, packaging, storage and processing operations and capacity building of farmers. The focus was on providing pre-harvest tools and development of post harvest infrastructure facilities like Pack houses, Cold storages, Drying plat¬forms, Refer Vans, Ripening Chambers etc. A total of (19) Cold storage units, (12) Ripening Chambers, (31) Pack houses and (40) Turmeric Boiling units were established. From 2013-14 onwards financial assistance is proposed online credit to the farmers account through HORTNET to ensure transparency and accountability in implementation of SHM programmes.
Improvement of production and productivity of Horticulture Crops
New gardens were established in an area of 3155 ha and Rejuvenation of old and senile orchards and Canopy management was done in an area of 8255 Ha.
Protected Cultivation
Government intends to take up a construction of Green Houses in 7.9 Ha, to promote cultivation of High Value vegetables and flowers to ensure that better quality of produce and also higher returns to the farmers. Assistance was provided to promote Mulching in 812 Ha.
On Farm Water Management Programme (Ofwm-Nmsa) & Micro Irrigation Scheme through State Plan (100%)
Effective utilization of every drop of water through micro irrigation is imperative for improving crop pro¬ductivity, production and to achieve sustainable improvement in living standards of small and marginal farmers of State by improving the water use efficiency through micro irrigation and farmers can get assured additional income. Effective utilization of micro irrigation enables water saving and enhanced plant growth and yield, saving in labour and energy, most suitable to poor soils, control of weeds, economy in cultural practices and easy operations, possibility of using saline water, improves fertilizer efficiency, flexibility in operation and no soil erosion.
Objectives
• Productivity enhancement & Quality improvement
• Improving water& Fertilizer use efficiency
• Improving Energy & Labour efficiency
• Produce more with less water
Components of Micro-Irrigation
• Drip Irrigation for wide spaced crops (Online)
• Drip Irrigation for closed spaced crops (Inline)
• Mini & Micro Sprinklers
• Portable, Semi Permanent & rain guns sprinklers
Need for Micro-Irrigation in Telangana
In Telangana, out of 14.85 lakh ha of net irrigated area irrigated with ground water, as on now only 4.7 lakh ha are only covered under micro irrigation, leaving a balance potential for micro irrigation area of 10.00 lakh ha.
Therefore there is urgent need to increase the area coverage under micro irrigation per year from 44000 to 100000 ha per year in State.
• To cover more area under micro irrigation for optimal utilization of resources, to enhance productivity and net income of poor farmers in monsoon dependent Telangana State as there is lot of potential for micro irrigation.
• Thus Action Plan with 1 lakh hectares per year under micro irrigation is prepared to cover at least 50% of potential area in next five years 2014 to 2019 under micro irrigation as area proposed under NMSA by Commissioner of Horticulture united AP for Telangana is only 44000 ha only for the year 2014-15.
• Focus Districts: Mahabubnagar, Rangareddy, Medak, Nizamabad, Adilabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Khammam & Nalgonda.
• Horticulture Crops–Vegetables, Chillies, Spices, Fruits, Papaya & Oil Palm.
• Agriculture –Sugarcane, Cotton, Maize, Red Gram, Groundnut & Soyabean.
• Sericulture– Mulberry
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Poly House for Cultivation of Vegetables
To promote high value horticulture crops and for continuous production and supply of Vegetables and flower crops encouraging poly houses in an area of 1000 acres in Telangana State for the year 2014-15. Poly Houses are being constructed to protect the structures made up of GI Pipes covered with UV stabilized Polyethylene (LLDPE) and nets (insect/shade net) used for cultivation of high value Horticulture crops. These structures are erected for protection of crops from adverse climatic conditions and for growing crops irrespective of their growing seasons.
Objectives
• To enhance productivity per unit area.
• Promotion of high value Horticulture crops under Poly houses. Year round production of fl oricultural crops and also off season production of vegetables.
• Disease free and genetically superior transplants can be produced continuously, there by generation of livelihoods in rural areas.
Progress since State Horticulture Mission
• Under the Scheme State Horticulture Mission, subsidy has been provided to 346 no. of farmers in all 9 districts of Telangana, for establishment of Poly Houses in an area of 130 acres with financial assis¬tance of Rs. 24.42 Crores.
• An amount of Rs.9.91 Crores was extended as assistance towards Plant Material (Flowers) under Pol¬yhouses and an amount of Rs. 22.86 Lakhs was extended as assistance towards Plant Material (Vege¬tables) under Poly houses.
• Total assistance of Rs. 34.33 Crores was provided to the beneficiaries for encouraging Protected Cultivation.
District wise achievement of Poly Houses, Plant Material (Flowers) & (Vegetables) under State Horticulture Mission since 2007 to 2013 are as follows:
Best Practices –Poly House Cultivation
• Expenditure including maintenance: Rs.80,000/- per month
• Net Income per Month Rs.1,00,000/- (Average)
Green House Cultivation
Poly House Cultivation
*Stay tuned for Horticulture continuation on 9-10-2015
G.Rajendera Kumar,
Deputy Statistical Officer, Planning Dept.
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