KBK region of the State holds a vast potential for development of horticulture, particularly fruits and vegetables. Parts of KBK region can produce off-season vegetable to feed the consuming markets in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Chhatisgarh. Mango is traditionally grown throughout the KBK region while Cashew is popular in Nawarangpur, Koraput and Malkanagiri districts. Pine- apple and Orange also traditional fruit crops in parts of Rayagada and Malkanagiri districts. The Guavas of Kalahandi and Nuapara are comparable to the best elite varieties. Recently Banana has come up as a commercial crop in parts of Rayagada, Kalahandi, Bolangir and Malkanagiri districts. Farmers of Kalahandi, Nuapara, Koraput and Rayagada have adopted hybrid vegetable to some extent. Onion is grown in large quantity in Bolangir, Kalahandi and Nuapara districts. Improved varieties of ginger (fiber less) and turmeric, mostly organic, are grown in parts of the Koraput district. Growth of horticulture in KBK districts is hampered due to lack of post-harvest infrastructure and poor marketing opportunities and lack of infrastructure.
Work Plan 2002-03 – Emphasis on KBK districts:
The Work Plan during the year 2002-03 in horticulture sector for the entire state is pegged at Rs.583.33 lakh. Besides Rs.250.00 lakh will be spent for horticulture development out of the spill over amount. About 30% of this amount will be spent in 8 KBK districts.
In the Work Plan 2002-03 emphasis has been given for subsistence as well as commercial horticulture. In the subsistence horticulture sector a major portion is allocated to KBK districts in the following areas.
1) Off-season vegetable Cultivation
2) Root & Tuber crops
3) Spices
4) Vegetable Seed mini kit for backyard nutritional gardens
Sixty percent of the target under spices and Root & Tuber crops is allocated to KBK districts for demonstration-cum-area expansion in ginger, turmeric, yam, colocasia, sweet potato, and elephant foot yam. 4000 families will be covered under tapioca cultivation in selected food stress pockets of Rayagada, Koraput, Kalahandi and Malkanagiri districts. 40,000 vegetable seed mini kits will be distributed in KBK districts. Besides, in parts of Rayagada and Koraput off-season vegetable cultivation will be promoted for getting better returns from their small land holdings.
In commercial horticulture sector, area specific fruit crops like mango, banana, guava, k.lime, anola, custard apple, pomegranate will be promoted in clusters.
Relatively progressive farmers of the KBK districts will be sent on exposure visits to outside the state while other farmers will be sent an exposure visit in side the state to acquaint themselves with better management practices in various horticultural crops. Pre and Post plantation training programmes will also be organized for the farmers participating/covered under various plantation crop programmes. Besides 50 un-employed youths from the KBK region will be imparted training in gardening and grafting skills to enable them to be self employed / employed in private sector. The duration of the training will be 6 months during which theoretical as well as field training will be imparted with stipend.
The Proposed Plan under ACA :
The proposed Plan under ACA will supplement the efforts of the State government under the Work Plan. Therefore more emphasis has been laid on creating basic infrastructure to help in production of quality planting materials & marketing besides, giving support to farmers under selected cash / high value crops having better acceptability among the tribals. The programme component suggested under the proposed plan will target BPL, SC & ST farmers only. Under the plantation component beneficiaries will be provided planting material support at highly subsidized rate along with plant protection chemical and fertilizer at 75% subsidy.
Crops :
Mango : It is proposed to cover 500 ha. of mango plantation. Totapuri, and Amrapalli variety will only be promoted under this plan as Totapuri variety has immediate industrial use in food processing industry and Amraplli variety has better market demand. Such plantation will be taken up clusters. The farmers will be provided planting material (grafts) at Rs.1.50/each thereby giving a subsidy about Rs.16.50 for Totapuri and Rs.30.50 for Amrapalli. The farmers will also be supplied Plant Protection chemical like Cloropyriphos and Endosulphan of the required quantity at 75% subsidy. Similarly required dosages of fertilizer will be supplied at 75% subsidy.
Cashew : Cashew has wider acceptability among the BPL,SC & ST families in Nawarangpur, Malkanagiri and Koraput districts. Therefore it is proposed to cover 500 ha. of cashew plantation in the holdings of BPL, SC&ST families. The families will be provided planting material of high yielding variety (grafts) at a price of Rs.1.50/graft (allowing a subsidy of Rs.13.50). Plant Protection chemical and fertilizer will be supplied to the families at 75% subsidy.
Banana : 200 ha. of banana plantation will be taken up. BPL, SC & ST families having energized dug wells/irrigation sources (available under million scheme /schemes of DRDA & ITDA) will be covered. Each family will be provided banana suckers for 0.2 ha. Farmers will be supplied suckers, treating chemicals and fertilizer. Altogether 1000 families will be covered.
Onion : Onion is largely cultivated in Bolangir, Kalahandi and Nuapara districts. A large number of BPL families have been provided dug wells under million well scheme in those districts. Suitable BPL, SC & ST farmers having dug wells will be motivated to take up onion cultivation. Certified onion seeds of commercial varieties are proposed to be supplied at 50% subsidy. 150 qtls. of onion seeds will be distributed covering 1500 ha. About 8000 families will be benefited under this programme.
Infrastructure Programme :
a) Cashew Nursery : It is proposed to establish a cashew nursery at Nawarangpur for production of quality planting material of hybrid Cashew varieties. Presently there are six such nurseries in Orissa which are located in and around Cuttack district. Transportation of cashew graft from Cuttack causes high mortality. As Nawarangpur and Koraput are traditional cashew areas and there is huge demand for cashew grafts, it is suggested to have the production facility at Nawarangpur. The nursery will be established by the Horticulture Department, which will be maintained and operated by Cashew Development Corporation. A sum of Rs.10.00 lakh is proposed for the purpose.
b) Cooling chambers at Semiliguda RMC : Semiliguda area of Koraput district produces lot of vegetables. Sometimes farmers fail to dispose their vegetable because of various external factors. In order to provide them with necessary bargaining power it is required to develop few cooling chambers, which can facilitate storage of their vegetable for a few days. This will help them in getting better price. One cooling chamber is proposed to be established at Semiliguda at a cost of Rs.6.00 lakh. RMC Semiliguda will own, maintain and manage the cooling chamber.
c) Ginger drying Units : Ginger is cultivated abundantly in undivided Koraput district. Sometimes farmers are facing distress situations in disposing raw ginger. It is therefore suggested to provide two drying units to two self help groups engaged in ginger cultivation. The members of the group will utilize the facility to dry the surplus ginger, which has a better market opportunity. The ginger drying units will be procured from CFTRI/CRRI/ RRL. A sum of Rs.1.00 lakh is suggested i.e. @ Rs.50000/unit.
d) Low cost onion storage structure : The onion growing farmers of KBK districts do not get better price as they are forced to dispose their produce at the time of harvest because of non availability of storage facilities. Under the Work Plan 2001-02, 100 nos of such structures have been constructed in the State at a cost of Rs.15000/unit. Such storage structures have been well accepted by individual farmers. 50% subsidy is allowed under this scheme. However it is found that BPL, SC & ST farmers do not avail the facility as the farmer share is beyond their reach. In order to help such farmers to store their onion for better price it is proposed that 250nos. of such structures will be constructed in which the farmer will be provided a subsidy of Rs.10000/unit. A sum of Rs.25.00 lakh is proposed.
e) Distribution of Plastic Crates : Transportation of vegetables and ripe fruits from the farmers’ field to the market center results in a loss of about 10% of the produce. In order to reduce the post harvest loss, farmers will be motivated to use plastic crates instead of gunny bags/other local material. National Horticulture Board provides 50% subsidy for plastic crates. It is proposed to distribute 5 nos. of such crates each to 1000 families in KBK districts. Each plastic crate costs Rs.250/- out of which NHB will provide 50% subsidy. It is suggested that another 40% subsidy may be provided out of ACA and 10% will be borne by the farmer. A sum of Rs.5.00 lakhs is proposed for the purpose.
1000 farmers mostly BPL, SC & ST will be trained in pre and post plantation techniques for 2 days i.e. one before plantation & one after plantation. Leaflets will also be provided to the farmers. A sum of Rs.1.00 lakh is proposed for the purpose. The training will be imparted by KVK/DDH.
Monitoring and Supervision :
For successful implementation of the programme, supervision from the Directorate of Horticulture and State Agriculture University is highly essential. For the mobility and extension a sum of Rs.2.00 lakh is proposed.