In a bid to promote cultivation of flowers, vegetables and spices in the district, Collector Ankit Anand has directed the officers to augment the horticulture farming acreage by 14,000 to 15,000 hectares during the next one year. In the time-limit meeting held here at the district Collectorate, Anand directed the Deputy Director of the Horticulture Department to take steps to increase the horticulture acreage of the district to 15,000 hectares.
He said that five to six gram panchayats should be selected from each development block and the farmers should be encouraged and trained for cultivation of flowers, vegetables and spices. He said that the horticulture farming acreage has been increased from 1,000 hectares to 7,000 hectares in past 5-6 years. The farmers of Bade Chakwa area were encouraged for cultivating flowers and they have benefited from it.
As a result, the farmers of the area are now giving priority to flowers and vegetables instead of traditional crops. The Collector also directed the officers to promote cultivation of onion in view of favourable climate in Bastar. He directed to achieve the target under Drip Irrigation Scheme. Under this scheme, the Government provides financial assistance of Rs28,800 for drip irrigation while the farmer has to bear expense of Rs3,200 only. This facilitates irrigation of 1,000 square meter.
Anand directed to increase the capacity of high-tech nursery of Horticulture Department in Asna from the current capacity of 50,000 saplings to two lakh saplings. The Collector directed the officers of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to expedite the work of widening of National Highway 30. He asked the officers of other departments to act promptly in order to complete the road widening work as soon as possible for benefit of people.
He expressed dissatisfaction with Municipal Commissioner for not providing land for construction of PDS building within limits of Jagdalpur Municipal Corporation. Meanwhile, the Chhattisgarh Government's Drip Irrigation Scheme, Micro Irrigation Scheme and Sprinkler Scheme have greatly contributed in expanding the area of cultivation and yield of horticulture crops, officials stated.
Under Sprinkler Scheme, total 38,995 farmers benefited whereas under the Drip Irrigation Scheme, 9,000 farmers have benefited. last year, nearly 16.98 lakh farmers received grants under various beneficiary-oriented schemes. Under Drip-Irrigation Scheme initiated in year 2005-06, subsidy of 75 per cent is provided to small and marginal farmers and that of 50 per cent is provided to big farmers for installation of drip instrument.
Till date, about 38,640 farmers have been benefited under the Sprinkler Irrigation Scheme and nearly 7,126 farmers have availed the provisions of Drip Irrigation Scheme. State-sponsored Micro-Irrigation Scheme was initiated in year 2102-13. The efforts of the Chhattisgarh Government to convince farmers to even grow fruits and vegetables had already started paying dividends. The area under cultivation of vegetables has increased from 3.13 lakh hectares to
3.51 lakh hectare, while production from the same has increased from 3.69 lakh metric tonnes to 4.58 lakh metric tonnes so far, officials stated. This apart, under the scheme initiated to encourage small farmers engaged in vegetable cultivation on river banks, the State Government also provides subsidy of Rs4,700 per 0.4 hectare.
The State Government initiated two new schemes in the year 2012-13 to increase the income of horticulture farmers. Moreover, the State Government also provides subsidy of Rs13,500 for installation of drip-irrigation scheme in 500 square metre in farms of BPl and marginal farmers, officials stated. In the year 2009-10, total area under cultivation of fruits in the State was 1.47 lakh hectares and total production from the same was 12.14 lakh metric tonnes which increased to 1.85 lakh hectare and 15.69 lakh metric tonnes respectively in year 2011-12.
Chhattisgarh has great prospects for horticulture crops as well. To explore this potential, State Government is providing every possible aid to the farmers for cultivation of fruits, vegetables and spices, officials stated. Area of cultivation for horticulture crops has increased by eight times in last 10 years. In the year 2003-04, the total area under cultivation of horticulture crops was 92,176 hectare, which increased to 7.25 lakh hectare in year 2013-14.
Agriculture has become an occupation of profit in Chhattisgarh. Adhering to the motto of 'Prosperous farmers- Prosperous Chhattisgarh', State Government led by Chief Minister Raman Singh has laid a strong foundation of all-round agricultural development in State. Several beneficial schemes have been started to reduce the general input cost of cultivation.
Implementation of such schemes has resulted in improved socio-economic status of farmers. Number of schemes has also been started for farmers engaged in employment and extra-income generating practices like animal husbandry and fishery. Development of agriculture cannot be imagined without irrigation facility. The State Government has implemented special action plan to expand the irrigation capacity of the State.
Collective efforts of the State Government have resulted in agricultural development along with significant improvement in lives of farmers. Chhattisgarh has bagged National Krishi Karman Award in year the 2010 and 2012 for highest production of rice. This proves that Chhattisgarh has actually become country's 'bowl of rice'.
The efforts of the Chhattisgarh Government to convince farmers to even grow fruits and vegetables had already started paying dividends. The area under cultivation of vegetables has increased from 3.13 lakh hectares to 3.51 lakh hectare, while production from the same has increased from 3.69 lakh metric tonnes to 4.58 lakh metric tonnes so far, officials stated. This apart, under the scheme initiated to encourage small farmers engaged in vegetable cultivation on river banks, the State Government also provides subsidy of Rs4,700 per 0.4 hectare.