Mango farmers to be taught Israeli techniques: Collector

C.N. Maheshwaran (right), Collector glancing the Mango displayed by the farmers after inaugurating the 19th All India Mango Exhibition in Krishngiri on Wednesday. M.L.A.s Manoranjitham Nagarajan (second right), T. Ramachandran (third right) and K.E. Krishnamoorthy (fourth right) and District Revenue Officer C. Prakasam (fifth right) are also in the picture. Photo: N. Bashkaran.

Farmers in the district will be trained in Israel techniques to get high yield in mango cultivation, said C.N. Maheshwaran, District Collector, here on Wednesday.

In the absence of Agriculture Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan and Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development K.P. Munusamy, Mr. Maheshwaran inaugurated the 19th All India Mango Exhibition at Government Boys High School Ground here.

Mr. Maheshwaran said that mango was being cultivated in 40,000 hectares in the district. He said that mango growers were getting Rs. 22,500 as subsidy an acre. This year, Rs. 1.20 crore would be distributed as subsidy to mango growers.

The Collector said that the exhibition would remain open to the public till July 15.

T. Ramachandran, MLA, asked the government to establish a mango procurement centre and mango pulp industry in the district to safeguard the interests of mango farmers.

The government should announce Thalli and Hosur as export zones keeping in view the abundant production of cut rose and chendu malli in the area. It would help farmers avail themselves of many facilities offered by the government. He expressed the hope that Chief Minister Jayalalithaa would fulfil her electoral promises on setting up a cold storage facility for tamarind in the district.

Mr. Ramachandran asked the Horticulture Department to double the area for eligibility for subsidy and raise the subsidy amount to Rs. 6.50 lakh from the present Rs. 3.25 lakh.

K.E. Krishnamoorthy, MLA, asked the District Collector to take the initiative in bringing back the glory of Government Spinning Mill in Uthangarai to safeguard the interests of hundreds of workers.

Manoranjitham Nagarajan, MLA, spoke.

K. Rajan, Joint Director, Agriculture Department, and P. Subbian, Additional Director, Horticulture Department, explained the actions being taken to improve the agriculture and horticulture production in the district and the subsidy available to farmers. C. Prakasam, District Revenue Officer welcomed the gathering.

Later, Mr. Maheshwaran distributed welfare assistance of Rs. 1.53 crore to 238 beneficiaries.