Govt mulls multiple crop cultivation

- Farmers asked to cultivate up to five crops per year
- Cultivation to be taken up in 10 ha initially

Rajamahendravaram: The State government is mulling multiple crop cultivation to boost agriculture productivity. In line with the objectives, the Horticulture department is encouraging farmers to cultivate up to five crops per year.

The government has also fixed targets for the officials and the assistant director of the horticulture department in East Godavari has been entrusted to make the farmers to go for multiple crops in at least 10 hectares. To achieve the targets the official are encouraging farmers to lay permanent pandals to cultivate hybrid varieties, high yielding crop and vegetables.

In this system, farmers have to lay 185 eight feet poles and iron fence with 20 kilograms of iron wire per one acre and farmers are being given Rs two lakh subsidy. Steps have been also taken to encourage shadow net cultivation and the farmers can cultivate in any amount of land, in which they will get Rs two lakh subsidy.

From this year, farmers are being encouraged to cultivate floriculture in poly house system and each farmer will get subsidy up to Rs 10 lakh. Hybrid vegetable cultivation is also being encouraged in which farmers will get subsidy to the tune of 50 per cent in purchase of seeds and fertilisers.

Speaking to The Hans India assistant director of Horticulture, K Chitti Babu said that the government was giving subsidy for multiple crop cultivation which would be profitable for farmers. He stressed the need for orchid cultivation which would be very profitable for farmers.

He informed that 150 multi-purpose extension officers have been appointed in the district to educate farmers besides providing technical and other form assistance to farmers.