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Karnataka govt increases focus on horticulture production, processing and marketing
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Friday, 04 June, 2010, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Bangalore
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Karnataka government is looking to maximise opportunities in horticulture production, processing and marketing. In this regard, it is focusing on two summer fruits-- mango and jack fruit.
To begin with, it has announced an allocation of Rs 10 crore to set up the Mango Development Board at Kolar to carry out research on the varieties and also assess the processing prospects of the fruit. The proposal has been placed before the Cabinet, stated horticulture minister Umesh Katti.
It has also organised a "Mango Mela" at the Horticulture Producers Cooperative Marketing and Processing Society Ltd (HOPCOMS), which has on display 12 varieties of the fruit in Bangalore at Lalbagh. These varieties are also on sale at the 248 HOPCOMS outlets across the state. In Bangalore alone, HOPCOMS will be distributing 1,000 tonnes of fruits at its 46 outlets. It will be sold till July at a discount of 10 %. The mela is being held despite the low mango yield which is pegged at a mere 5 lakh tonnes, half of last year's output.
Expressing concern over the drastic reduction in mango cultivation during the year, he said that in order to boost production, the mango development board could help in increasing the produce. Explaining the government sops to increase mango production in the state, the minister stated that mango growers were given a loan of Rs 30,000 per hectare while another Rs 20,000 is given to revive old mango trees aged above 20 years.
Further, the state government is giving 25% subsidy as "value addition" to the large-scale food processing units in line with the National Horticulture Mission. The large-scale processing units are already receiving 25% subsidy from the central government. The state government will contribute another 25% making it a total of 50% subsidy to those large-scale food processing units with an investment of up to Rs 50 lakh.
The state is also keen to focus on the development of jack fruit. In this regard, under the aegis of the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), a national workshop on jack fruit was held recently to create awareness about the multipurpose tree.
According to agriculture minister S A Ravindranath, the UAS will now supply one lakh jack fruit seedlings to farmers to encourage jack fruit cultivation in the state.
In a bid to further encourage the cultivation and consumption, a Jack Fruit Growers Association was formed in 2006 which proved to be a boon to farmers in Doddaballapur. The Association which began with 20 farmers has now a total of 60 representatives. There are jack fruit trees which yield over 300-350 fruits a year.
Among the jack fruit varieties grown in Karnatak are Halad, Rudrakshi, Kempu Chandra, Banjara and Gillinama Halasu, which can be grown right through the year and across the country.
But in India, it is primarily grown in the coastal areas. "The workshop was a platform for marketing and processing opportunities for jack fruit farmers. There needs to be considerable efforts to look at increasing the production of jams, papads, pickles and chips," said Ravi Kumar, secretary, Jack Fruit Growers Association.
The setting up of HOPCOMS has proved the successful marketing prospects of fruits and vegetables. The cooperative, which is observing its 50 anniversary, has slated expansion outlets and products initiative which also includes selling wine at the outlets in Bangalore to begin with and later take it to other centres in the state.
. The new outlets are expected to go hi-tech by implementing spot billing and creating more space for visitors. The horticulture produce on sale will also go global with the availability of Kiwi
fruit, spinach and lettuce being made available at these outlets.
There are 600 new HOPCOMS coming up and six are already opened, Dr. BKrishna, managing director, HOPCOMS, and director, Karnataka Wine Board, told F& B News.
"We are also planning to sell wine at these outlets. We will also be opening three more outlets at Neelamangala, Doddaballapur and Chikkaballapur where wine sales will commence. After gauging the public response we will expand the sale of wine to other districts," he added.
In order to increase the organic farming potential in the state, HOPCOMS will also sell vermi-compost at all its outlets soon.
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