The Government has allocated a sum of Rs. 2.37 crore for the implementation of a special subsidy scheme under the National Horticulture Mission in Salem district during the current year (2015-16).
A total area of 530 hectares will be covered under the scheme that will be implemented jointly by the Centre and the State Government. While the Centre will contribute a lion’s share of 85 per cent, the State will share the remaining 15 per cent. The major beneficiaries will be vegetable and mango farmers. While an area of 150 hectares will be covered under vegetable crops, about 135 hectares will be covered under the high density and ultra high density mangoes in different parts of the district.
The area covered under other horticulture crops are: ultra high density guava 30 hectares, tissue culture banana 60 hectares, flower crops 50 hectares, chilly and coriander 75 hectares and pepper 30 hectares.
Both the Centre and the State Government has already finalised and approved the annual action plan under this programme, according to S. Kannan, Deputy Director of Horticulture.
Under this scheme, the farmers will get subsidy ranging from 60 – 75 per cent. Of the total allotment, 20 per cent has been earmarked for the farmers belonging to the notified communities such Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe.
The SC and ST farmers, for getting further details and applying for the subsidy, can contact the horticulture department officials for the same, Mr. Kannan said.
Besides, under the Protected Cultivation Techniques of the National Horticulture Mission, about 10,000 square meters will be covered under poly-green house and another 20,000 square meters under the shade net house special schemes. With the advancement in horticulture cultivation, various types of protected practices have emerged. Protected cultivation practices under different types of structures such as ply green house, shade net house will save plants from winter and extends the cultivation session for off-season crop production. Another 100 acres under horticulture crops will be covered under the plastic mulling to check weed growth, moisture conservation etc. A subsidy of Rs. 16,000 per hectare will be extended to the farmers under this programme.
The proposals under the different horticulture schemes being implemented under the State Government scheme in the district have been forwarded to the head quarters for its approval.
