Poly-house farming is set to receive a fillip in the district, with the Horticulture Department readying two poly-house demo units to popularise greenhouse technology and help farmers take up cultivation of high yielding vegetables round the year under controlled weather conditions.
Although widely acclaimed as the horticulture hub of Telangana, Khammam, the predominantly tribal populated district, is still lagging behind in embracing the protected cultivation technology to maximise horticulture output.
According to sources, only seven farmers constructed greenhouses by availing subsidies offered by the Horticulture Department in the entire district last year. However, they are yet to take up protected cultivation of crops using the greenhouse technology in a full-fledged manner in Sattupalli, Yerrupalem, Penuballi and Khammam rural mandals, sources added.
In an effort to give an impetus to poly-house farming, the Horticulture Department has constructed two poly greenhouses – one each at its horticulture farms in Garimellapadu in Kothagudem mandal and Atchutapuram in Aswaraopeta mandal – exclusively for demonstration purpose. The move is aimed at familiarising farmers with the scientific and cost-effective method of poly greenhouse cultivation by providing them hands-on training at the demo units.
Cultivation
Efforts are on to cultivate tomato, cucumber and capsicum in the poly greenhouse demonstration units at the horticulture farms in Garimellapadu and Atchutapuram, said R. Srinivasa Rao, deputy director, Horticulture Department, Khammam.
The demo units will help motivate farmers adopt greenhouse technology to grow high yielding vegetable crops in a protected environment throughout the year, he affirmed, adding that plans were afoot to bring 50 acres under greenhouse farming in the district this year.
