Date:13/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/13/stories/2008121359670800.htm

Tamil Nadu

Plan to create awareness of horticulture schemes

Special Correspondent

THANJAVUR: A national0level seminar on horticulture will be organised here in the third week of January 2009 by the National Horticulture Board to create awareness of schemes available to farmers, said S. Singaravadivelu, Director of National Horticulture Board, here on Wednesday.

He told presspersons that the Board, which met recently, felt the need for creating awareness about horticulture schemes.

Many people from the State complain that the scheme subsidies available under these schemes are not reaching them.

Ignorance about schemes comes in the way of developing horticulture. National Horticulture Mission is implemented in Tamil Nadu. There is a big scope for improving horticulture in Tamil Nadu.Farmers, experts in horticulture, scientists, officials from private companies which encourage contract farming with respect to horticulture crops will participate in the seminar and discuss ways to improve horticulture in Tamil Nadu in general and Thanjavur district in particular, Mr. Singaravadivelu said.

Horticulture department is giving thrust on floriculture, raising fruit bearing trees, cold storage, etc. Subsidy is to the tune of 20 per cent subject to a maximum of Rs. 25 lakh of the project cost. For putting up cold storages fifty per cent of the project cost is given as subsidy.

“Floriculture has wide scope as cut flowers and other value added products can be exported. They can be provided technical and economic help to take up floriculture on a large scale,” Mr. Singaravadivelu said.