Date:20/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/20/stories/2006022006440300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

`Help farmers grow horticulture crops'

Staff Reporter

Department told to regulate crop cultivation and prevent losses

Three-day horticulture show inaugurated
Collector offers to set up outlet at Gaddiannaram fruit market

Farmers told to go slow on banana cultivation

ANANTAPUR: Anantapur MP A. Venkatarami Reddy has called upon the Horticulture Department to guide the farmers on cultivating different varieties of horticulture crops keeping in mind the changing market demands.

Speaking after inaugurating a three-day horticulture show here on Sunday, he said due to lack of awareness farmers were suffering huge losses. He asked the department to regulate cultivation of different crop, if necessary, to prevent farmers suffering losses.

District Collector Y.V. Anuradha, said tissue culture appeared to be a fashion in the district now as more and more farmers were taking up banana cultivation. But it should not go to the levels as that of tomato, which was often thrown on the roads due to poor price, she cautioned farmers.

She said the administration would take an outlet in the wholesale fruit market at Gaddiannaram in Hyderabad on lease and they could take their produce to get remunerative price.

The Collector observed that agriculture, horticulture, sericulture, vermiculture and dairy farming could change the destiny of the district, if they were given a proper thrust.

Along with MP and Singanamala legislator S. Sailajanath the Collector visited the exhibition stalls set up on drip and sprinkler implements.