According to government officials in Madhya Pradesh, the horticulture farmers will be provided financial assistance for the cultivation of water chestnuts, medicinal plants, etc. in the state. The fund or grant will be given to the growers in form of installments through DBT under Government’s Poly-house and Shade Net scheme.
Committees to be set up at district level to expand horticulture sector
Bharat Singh Kushwaha, the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Horticulture and Food Processing told media that District Horticulture Advisory Committees would be set up at the district level to expand the horticulture sector and guarantee the implementation of farmer-friendly departmental schemes in Madhya Pradesh. Moreover, farmers of the concerned district will be made members of the committees.
Kushwaha also told that the program would be planned and executed on the basis of the suggestions received from the farmers to promote organic horticulture farming in the state.
As per the demand and requirement of farmers, districts would be given the target of construction of cold-storage, onion store-house, pack-house for storage of various horticulture crops.
Improved varieties of seeds & plants will be provided to farmers
The minister further said that keeping in mind the demand of the horticulture growers, the department will provide improved varieties of seeds as well as plants.
Kushwaha added that according to the demand of the farmers, plants of special varieties such as VNR Worf Khana of Guava, Pink Taiwan etc. will be made available to the horticulture farmers by the department.
He said that the government has decided to give the amount of grant/financial help to the farmers in installments through DBT under Poly-house & Shade Net scheme.
The minister informed that decisions have also been taken for grants on seeds of medicinal crops, settlements of pending cases at bank-level under "One District-One Product", quality testing of seeds, fertilizers, medicines & other suggestions given by farmers.
Grants will be provided for wire-fencing of agricultural field
Kushwaha at last told that a scheme would be started soon to provide grants for wire-fencing of the agricultural field to keep horticulture crops safe from stray cattle & wild animals.
Benefits of water chestnut cultivation
The special thing about the cultivation of water chestnuts is that it can be done throughout the year. Because water chestnut flour is used in fasting (religious occasions) so it fetches good prices. Dry water chestnut costs up to Rs 120 per kg. Its highest price is available in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
