BHUBANESWAR: THE Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has unearthed large-scale irregularities in the implementation of schemes under the Horticulture Mission in the State raising doubts over the State Government’s commitment for development of agriculture sector.
According to the latest CAG report as against the revised target of ` 18.19 crore under the quality planting materials QPM, ` 13.49 crore was spent during 2005-09. Despite reduced target for establishing 82 small/model nurseries in public sector and 56 in private sector, only 73 were set up in the public sector at a cost of ` 7.06 crore. Besides, no nurseries were set up in the private sector despite allotment of ` 2.19 crore.
The CAG found that seed production godowns in private/public sector were not set up despite ` 12 lakh earmarked for the same. Under vegetable seed production against the target of covering 1,529.02 hectare at a cost of ` 7.65 crore, only 831.56 hectares were covered at a cost of ` 4.2 crore leading to shortfall in vegetable seed production.
The mission envisaged coverage of large areas under improved varieties of horticulture crops by encouraging farmers to set up new gardens with assistance ranging from 33 to 75 per cent of the cost to be released in the ratio of 50:20:30 in the first, second and third year.
The subsidy of 20 per cent and 30 per cent was to be released subject to minimum survival of 75 per cent of plants at the end of the first year and 90 per cent at the end of second year respectively. As against the revised target of ` 87.19 crore, only Rs 77.4 crore was utilised during 2005-09.
According to the report, there was a shortfall in achievement of target for fruit gardens, spices and medicinal plantations and non-raising of betel vine garden.