The Hindu : New scheme evolved for horticulture development

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 20, 2002

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New scheme evolved for horticulture development

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi Oct. 19. A new scheme on sustainable development of horticulture through technology intervention has been formulated for implementation during the 10th Plan, for effective application of technology, besides support and risk management.

Perceiving a potential for development of horticulture in Jammu and Kashmir, a technology mission in J&K has also been proposed in the Plan, the Union Agriculture Secretary, J.N.L. Srivastava, said here on Friday in his inaugural address at the two-day National Horticulture Conference.

He said the Ministry was focussing on hi-tech horticulture and precision farming to derive the maximum output. Mr. Srivastava said that during the 10th Plan, a growth target of 8 per cent had been envisaged. The S.P. Gupta Committee had also laid emphasis on similar growth to create millions of jobs in the country.

To achieve 8 per cent GDP growth, agriculture had to grow at a minimum of 4 per cent and horticulture had to grow by more than 7 per cent.

He said the Government was encouraging farmers to diversify into crops such as pulses, horticulture, poultry and livestock. During the 7th Plan, the Government had made a Plan provision of Rs. 20 crore for horticulture, which was increased to Rs. 1000 crore in the 8th Plan and Rs. 1,400 crore in the 9th Plan.

It was expected to be Rs. 4,500 crore during the 10th Plan, which included allocation for programme on horticulture under the Macro-Management Scheme.

Stating that planting material and post-harvest management and marketing were the two most important areas where attention should be focussed to improve horticulture, Mr. Srivastava said that the Government was amending the Seeds Act to allow individuals to produce quality planting material.

The Centre had already enacted the ``Plant Varieties and Protection of Farmers Act'' to protect the interests of farmers. Cooperatives and private companies must play a greater role in the two important areas, he said.

The two-day conference would review the implementation of various horticulture schemes and take note of the developments taking place in this sector.

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