Rs 71 lakh subsidy for horticulture

The department of horticulture has announced a subsidy of Rs 70.50 lakh for crops like mango, cashew, banana, vegetables and floriculture in East Godavari district.

According to officials, hybrid seeds of the crops are available at agricultural offices in the district. The government has given licence to 20 companies to supply hybrid seeds.

The department will give 50 per cent subsidy on plant material not exceeding Rs 900, Rs 1,200 and Rs 18,000 per hectare of mango, cashew and banana crops respectively. The subsidy will also be given for rejuvenation/replanting of mango, cashew and citrus crops not exceeding Rs 5,000 each per hectare.

Similarly, vegetable crops will also be entitled to 50 per cent subsidy not exceeding Rs 1,500 per hectare.

"The department has already supplied seeds worth Rs 20,000 to farmers and sent an indent to the state government for Rs 2 lakh worth of various seeds for immediate requirement in the district," said N Venkateswara Rao, assistant director of horticulture.

According to him, farmers in the district will get a subsidy of Rs 14.89 lakh on vegetable crops and Rs 22.52 lakh on mango, cashew, banana and citrus plants.

He said that Rs 9.50 lakh had been allocated for subsidy on shade nets, H T rose, chrysanthemum, crossandra and jasmine.

While 50 per cent subsidy, not exceeding Rs 7 per square metre, will be given for shade nets, which are used to reduce temperature in floriculture, H T rose, chrysanthemum, crossandra and jasmine will get Rs 6,000 each per 0.4 hectare.

Rao also said that the department would give subsidy for setting up of vermin-compost yards, integrated nutrient management, purchasing of plastic crates, Taiwan sprayers, foot sprayers, rocker sprayers, cut and hold harvesters, low-cost cashew processing units, distillation units and others.