VELLORE: A two-day meeting on horticulture, organied by the Department of Horticulture under the aegis of the National Horticulture Mission began on Thursday where farmers were called upon to adopt drip-irrigation as water is extremely scarce in the district.
Presiding over the meet, collector Nanthagopal advised farmers to collect rain water in ponds during the monsoon which can be used for farming as well as recharging the ground water.
Horticulture crops, according to Nanthagopal, are being cultivated in 32,000 hectares in the district (18 per cent of the total cultivable land in Vellore). Mango topped the list of horticulture crops with 14,800 hectares of cultivation. The district also boasted of a special variety of brinjal cultivation in Illavampadi village which has received wide acclamation from farmers across the State. In order to promote horticulture in a big way, the State government has implemented several schemes under the National Horticulture Mission, National Herbal Mission, National Bamboo Mission offering subsidies.
Drip irrigation would be a boon for horticulture crops and farmers of this district should focus on installing drip-irrigation system not only to conserve water but also for getting good returns, Nanthagopal added.
Horticulture is the branch of agriculture that deals with the art, science, technology and business of growing vegetable garden plants.