During the discussion hour of the State level Awareness Programme on Schemes organised by the department under the aegis of Ministry of Agriculture at Classic Hotel, a new subsidy policy for proposed to National Horticulture Board (NHB) giving emphasis on establishment of fruit nurseries under open cultivation without credit linked with Banks as Bankers are not ready to finance the farmers so that they enjoy 20% of the total project cost limited to Rs.30 lakh in regions of North East States. After discussion, NHB has agreed to grant such subsidy but the farmers have to establish nurseries with their own resources then a team of experts will visit the site for accreditation. If the nurseries maintain and fulfill the criteria of NHB, the subsidy amount will then be released. The whole project/process will be completed in 18 months. Now we can start the process with interested group of farmers having 10 acres of land for establishing MOTHER BLOCK, SCION BLOCK as well as NURSERY BLOCK.
There is no limit for project cost but subsidy is limited to thirty lakhs. They can start with their own limited resources. If a farmer invests one lakh, he will get twenty thousand as subsidy, investing 10 lakh, 2 lakhs as subsidy and so on. If they have good term with bank then can approach for credit. Seeds, root stocks, and scion for fruits should be procured from accredited nurseries or from known sources or through Horticulture Department. Only the good quality and known varieties have to be selected for establishing nurseries. If the farmers need any help or guidance, may contact Horticulture Department, Technology Mission Cell, State Guest House.
Such an initiative is welcome when Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation is planning to increase areas covered by fruit plants to 80 percent by 2020 from the present 32 percent.
This report is submitted by Dr. Rajkumar Imotomba Singh
