The Andhra Pradesh government wants to promote ‘fertigation’ (micro-irrigation integrated with water soluble fertilizer) which will increase the returns of the fruit farmers by 35%.
The State ranks first in oil palm, papaya, coconut and chilli production and ranks second in mango and tomato production. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s vision is to make the State a horticulture hub and increase the net area sown by horticulture crops from the 20% to 35% in the next three years.
The benefits of fertigation over the conventional or drop-fertilizing methods include increased nutrient absorption, reduction of fertilizer and water needed and greater control in the application of nutrients.
There is a reduction in soil erosion because the nutrients are pumped through the water drip system. Leaching of nutrients from the soil is also decreased.
The government is going to promote innovative technologies like off-season, protected cultivation of vegetables and flowers in poly houses and shade net houses, pandal system of vegetable cultivation, using of trellis for tomato cultivation to increase yield and mulching for gourds and melons to increase production and net-returns for farmers.
As many as 6.25 lakh farmers micro-irrigating crops are benefiting from various schemes under the A.P. Micro Irrigation Project (APMIP), according to the Planning Department.
Net return
According to a third party evaluation of the impact of micro irrigation on the net returns to farmers conducted by the NABCONS Consultancy Services and Agriculture Finance Corporation (AFC), there has been a minimum of 25% increase in net income per hectare due to micro-irrigation.
Mango showed the highest increase of 50% on net income including the saving on water and energy. The following are the crops and the percentage increase in net return on income due to the impact of micro irrigation: mango 50%, sweet orange 27%, acid lime 25%, guava 25%, banana 42 %, papaya 27%, vegetables 40%, tomato 39%, maize 22% and mulberry 40 %.
The State government is implementing strategies to make Rayalaseema as a horticulture hub.
The government has set for itself a target of covering 10 lakh farmers in the next three years under the Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO) for agriculture and allied sectors for the formation of linkages to market the State’s products, globally.
