The Hindu Business Line : Rs 2,300 cr set apart for development of horticulture in TN

HORTICULURE with its scope for diversification and value-addition holds the key for enhancing farmers' income and the government has set apart Rs 2,300 crore in the Tenth Plan its promotion, the Additional Secretary, Union Ministry of Horticulture, Mr R.S. Pandey, has said.

He delivered the inaugural address at the three-day national seminar on `Globalisation of Amla' organised by the Aonla Growers Association of India here today.

The seminar was sponsored by the National Horticulture Board and the National Medicinal Plants Board and supported by the Union Ministry of Agriculture, and the Horticulture Departments of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Mr Pandey said over 50 years the nation had concentrated on building the food security. Now, time has come for the farmers to get their due share in raising their income. The scope and potential for this is high in horticulture through diversification and value-addition. Its importance could be gauged from its contribution to the gross domestic product in agriculture, which is significant, at 28 per cent, coming from 8.5 per cent of land covered under horticulture.

Amla, as a horticulture crop, holds great promise as it can be grown in a variety of agro-climatic conditions and exported. Its value in medicine is immense and lends itself to more value-addition.

Earnings per acre of land is around Rs 80,000 to Rs 1 lakh. The government has set in motion a mission-mode approach to double the horticulture production in the next eight years through cluster formations.

In Tamil Nadu, four districts, including Madurai, have been identified as thrust area for amla production with a provision of Rs 75 crore for the current fiscal. Apart from financial thrust, there is need for research and application of technology to promote production and improve quality, he said.

Dr H.P. Singh, Dean, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Uttar Pradesh, observed that amla held scope for a sustainable development with its significant place in Indian medicine. Its production has been annually increasing at 11.7 per cent. Through systematic and scientific studies, there is need to project its potential and secure for the country an increased export, he added.

Mr Pandey released a souvenir on amla and CDs on production techniques.

Scientists and farmers participated in the seminar. An exhibition with over 25 stalls for sale of 60 products of amla has also been organised.

Later, addressing presspersons, Mr Pandey said that three electronic auction centres at a cost of Rs 1.30 crore each would come up in Tamil Nadu for marketing of flower, vegetables etc. at Ooty, Ottanchathram and Erode respectively.

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