CM Naidu’s new target: Horticulture in one crore acres

Naidu stresses the need for expansion as it will Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has set an ambitious target of bringing one crore acres of land in the State under horticulture crops. help farmers
CM Chandrababu Naidu | EPS
CM Chandrababu Naidu | EPS

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has set an ambitious target of bringing one crore acres of land in the State under horticulture crops. In a review meeting with higher officials of agriculture and allied sector departments at the Interim Government Complex in Velagapudi on Friday, Naidu stressed the need for expansion of horticulture crops, as it would help the farmers reap more economic benefits. 
The officials explained to the Chief Minister the composition planned including fruits, vegetables, plantation crops, spices, flowers and aromatic plants. The productivity of most crops differed from district to district, many crop-wise interventions were discussed in the meeting. 

Naidu said that as opposed to district-wise approach, the department should follow a cluster-wise approach and organise data in an integrated way. “In a public-private partnership (PPP)  mode, you must engage services to take care of all aspects of horticulture, from pre-harvest to post-harvest,” he said. 

With regard to agriculture, the projected growth for the kharif season this year is 12 per cent, and the rabi season growth rate over 2016 was 31 per cent.  The Chief Minister said that the agriculture sector must grow by 25 per cent and that the state must aspire towards nothing less. 

He expressed satisfaction over the state receiving 3.5 per cent more rainfall than the normal range. According to officials, Nellore, Chittoor, Kadapa and Anantapur received 20 per cent more rainfall than normal. Officials explained that as part of providing protective irrigation in drought affected areas, 810 acres of moisture stress areas have been treated with rain guns and 15 MI companies participated in a systematically driven programme utilising 600 moisture sensors. “Contingency crop seeds with 100 per cent subsidy will be distributed in Prakasam and Rayalaseema districts.

The orders were issued in August to distribute 1.4 lakh quintals of seed on 100 per cent subsidy to drought affected districts,” they said. The targeted area for kharif crop cultivation was 42.07 lakh hectares whereas the season normal was 40.47 lakh hectares. 89% of the target was achieved across the state, with Srikakulam and Chittoor having the highest cultivation at 101 per cent and 100 per cent respectively, added the officials. It was decided that the unsown area will be covered during the rabi season or will be diverted for other allied sectors.  As of now,  0.20 lakh hectares of the unsown area has been diverted to horticulture, agro-forestry and urbanization, 0.25 lakh hectares for fish tanks and 0.04 lakh hectares for the Polavaram Project. 

Naidu also took stock of the cultivated area that was geo-tagged. As of now, 98 percent of the sown area have been geo-tagged compared to 76 per cent last year. While suggesting the officials to take help of ISRO in planning crops in a systematic manner, he asked them to find out the expected yield, crop health, cost-effectiveness and productivity by using data. He wanted them to have accurate forecasts using technology. Subsidy seed distribution was lower this year due to dry weather and low rainfall in June and July resulting in less uptake of groundnut, paddy and pulses. 

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