TIRUCHY: Horticulture activities in Tiruchy district have picked up momentum following the launching of several by state horticulture department schemes under the National Horticulture Mission (NHM), National Agriculture Development Programme, Rainfed Area Development Scheme, National Bamboo Mission and National Mission for Medicinal Plants.
According to Deputy Director of Horticulture P Tamilkalanchiyam, who took a press party to some horticulture farms near here, under protected cultivation, growing of horticultural crops in a shade net house can be taken up, irrespective of climatic conditions, to reduce pests and diseases and help farmers increase yields in off-season too.
During the current year, they have so far spent '2.53 lakh under NHM as against the target of '8 crore. S.Safiullah a farmer of Thanchangkurichi has been given ‘shade net structure’ of about 960 sq metres for which he has availed a subsidy of '3.41 lakh.
Safiullah, who used to raise both chillies and tomatoes in the open field; said he now realised that after adopting ‘shade net house cultivation’ the crop is better and the yield also has increased. P. Ravichandran assistant director of Horticulture said that they have supplied honeybee colonies to farmers under subsidy to increase pollination in horticulture crops.
Under NHM, farmer Panneerselvam of Siruthaiyur village has been given six such honey bee colonies for lemon, mango and coconut plantations, he said, adding, that during the current year, they have so far supplied 300 honey bee hive boxes to needy farmers.
Similarly, N Raja of Anbil village has been given work order for the construction of ‘poly green houses’ over an area of 3000 sq metres with a subsidy of '12.66 lakh, as against a target to build poly green houses over a 5,000 sq metre area, the official added.
