Karnataka seeks higher allocation for horticulture mission

The Karnataka government has revised the action plan to implement the National Horticulture Mission project in the state and has sought a higher allocation from the Centre this fiscal.

The state horticulture department has sent a proposal to the Union ministry of agriculture seeking Rs 90.51 crore for this fiscal to implement the NHM project.

According to G K Vasanthkumar, director, horticulture department, the mission mode horticulture project will be implemented across 15 districts in the state as against the earlier plan of 13 districts. Recently, the department included two more districts, Chikmagalur and Shimoga.

"With the addition of two more districts into the NHM project, the department needs additional funds and to meet the expenses, we have urged the Centre to sanction us higher amount this year," he said.

The department had earlier sent a revised proposal seeking Rs 95 crore to implement the project this fiscal. However, the Union agriculture ministry rejected the state's proposal and directed to scale it down further.

Subsequently, the state horticulture department has reworked the cost of the project and has fixed it at Rs 90.51 crore and has forwarded the proposal to the Centre.

The state government has already received Rs 44.55 crore from the Centre of the Rs 85 crore sanctioned for the first year of the three-year project. Of this, the department has already spent Rs 25 crore and is presently waiting for the release of the remaining Rs 40 crore from the Centre.

"We are likely to get about Rs 130 crore from the Centre this year for the project. Due to the delayed approval of funds we could not implement the project last financial year. Hence, we will be get more funds this year and we wish to spend the amount this year," Vasanthkumar told Business Standard.

The department has taken up the expansion of area under various horticulture crops such as cashewnut, mango, pomegranate, grapes, papaya, banana, pineapple, cocoa and ginger.

Till the end of June, the department has added 1,500 hectares for perennial fruits and 1,035 hectares under non-perennial fruits.

Under the mission it is proposed to take up integrated development of various horticulture crops such as fruits, vegetables, spice crops, floriculture and provide micro irrigation facilities to all the horticulture crops.

The department has also received approval from the Centre to introduce micro irrigation system in the state and the project cost is estimated at Rs 70 crore. While the Centre has sanctioned Rs 40 crore, the state government will bear the remaining Rs 30 crore, Vasanthkumar said.

During the present fiscal, it is proposed to cover 15,000 hectares across the state. Each farmer will be given funds up to 12.5 acres, he added.