Water Management Helps Horticulture Farmers

Tamil Nadu: Under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) scheme, constructing water storage structures near poly greenhouses has helped horticulture farmers here meet the water requirements at this time of water crisis.

In an area of about 57,400 hectares, the horticulture crops such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices and condiments and plantation crops are cultivated. Since Krishnagiri district is blessed with conducive agro climatic conditions to cultivate these horticulture crops.

Fruit crops are being grown in an area of 36,960 hectares of which 13,900 hectares under vegetables of which tomato contributes about 4,900 hectares, spreading over blocks such as Shoolagiri, Thally, Hosur, kelamangalam, Veppanapalli; Flowers mainly roses, chrysanthimum, gerbera, marigold, jasmine are grown in 2,550 hectares in blocks of Kaveripattinam, Thally, Hosur, Kelamangalam; Mango alone is grown in 35,500 hectares spreading over blocks like Krishnagiri, Kaveripattinam, Bargur, Mathur, Veppanapalli; 3,800 hectares under spices and condiments, and 113 hectares under plantation crops.

According to S. Raja Mohamed, Joint Director of Horticulture, Krishnagiri, mainly for the cultivation of flower crops, and vegetables like cucumber, capsicum in the district, poly green houses have been built on an area of more than 45 lakh square meters.

Under the scheme being implemented in Krishnagiri district during 2016-17, rainwater that falls on top of the poly green house will be collected and fed into the water storage structure. This is besides the rain water collected directly and surplus water from foggers or drip irrigation installed inside poly green house. The water thus saved will be used to irrigate the crops.

With a financial allocation of Rs. 98 lakh, the water storage structure was sanctioned for 130 units. Under this scheme, farmers having poly greenhouses can avail of 50 percent subsidy to the maximum of Rs. 75,000 per unit of 20 x 20 x 3 m size structure underlined with 300 micron geo membrane to avoid the seepage loss.

Mr. Mohamed added, the scheme is being implemented only in Krishnagiri district in Tamil Nadu. To be covered under this innovative scheme in the district about 130 such water storage structures have been targeted.

SourceSource: http://www.thehindu.com/