Available drip irrigation to save water: Joint Director

Srikakulam: Joint Director for Horticulture (JDH) P Hanumantha Rao on Sunday called upon the farmers to convert into drip irrigation mode for optimal utilisation of water. Speaking to media here on Sunday, he highlighted that the government was promoting drip irrigation to save water and expenditure through AP Micro Irrigation Project (APMIP).

For small and marginal farmers belonging to SC and ST, he said up to Rs 2 lakh worth drip and sprinkler irrigation tools would be supplied free of cost up to 5 acres of land. For other category farmers, he said these materials would be supplied at 90 per cent subsidy on its total cost and concerned farmer need to bear remaining 10 per cent cost only.

Farmers who have more than 5 acres and below 10 acres of land, he stated Rs 2.80 lakh worth drip and sprinkler irrigation material would be supplied at 30 per cent subsidy. For farmers who have more than 10 acres of land can claim 50 per cent subsidy on material cost up to Rs 4 lakh, he pointed out. More facilities will be available to farmers if they form as groups at village or mandal-level, the JDH stated.

He added the horticulture department was ready to provide technical support for processing their produce and marketing management. For ripening of fruits, the government was ready to provide credit facility upto Rs 1 crore with 75 per cent subsidy, he stated.

For ripening of fruits without using chemicals like carbide this facility is being provided by the government under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). To avail facility farmers can approach individually or collectively as a group or public-private partnership (PPP) mode, the JDH elaborated. APMIP Project Director AVSV Jamadagni, APD of APMIP G V V V Prasada Rao, Assistant Director for Horticulture R Prasad participated.