In a great urge to strengthen the rural economy, the government of Andhra Pradesh has launched an ambitious horticultural plantation drive under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantion Scheme (Mgnregs), tailored to the Agro climatic strengths of every region.
The initiative is not only designed to create sustainable means of existence, but also to generate a long -term income for small and marginal farmers, Shashibhushan Kumar, main secretary, Panchayat Raj and national development, told The Hindu.
According to the regional crop strategy, North Andhra will see the plantation of cashew nuts, mango, coconut, sour lime, guava, seethafal, tamarind, silver oak and rubber. Coastal Andhra will focus on mango, cashew, sour lime, guava, coconut, sapota, pomegranate and cocoa, while expected to grow Rayalaseema, sweet orange, sour lime, guava, sapota and pomegranate. These region -specific choices are aimed at maximizing productivity and ecological compatibility.
Mr. Shashibhushan Kumar said that the selection of fruit crushes would be according to the choice of the beneficiary, and had the recommendation of the horticultural officer on the soil suitability and availability of water. Farmers would be encouraged in multi -year horticultural crops such as fruit trees, commercial crops and flowery.
An important highlight of this year’s program was held a Mega Plantation Drive on 8 July, which covered 25,000 hectares in one day in the entire state, he added.
The official launch was carried out in the village of Veerapanigudem in the Krishna district, where Mango -Jonge Boompjes were planted in the field of a local farmer by Mr. Shashibhushan Kumar, together with Senior IAS and IFS officers and local dignitaries.
In FY 2024–25, a degree of 63,582 hectares were brought under horticultural plantations that benefit 41,008 farmers. For FY 2025–26, the State focuses on 1.00,000 hectares. Since the founding of the program, plantations had been raised at 7.69 Lakh hectare, for the benefit of 4.65 Lakh farmers, he explained.
Under the initiative, any eligible beneficiary fruit -bearing trees can cultivate on 0.25 hectares to 5 hectares. Financial assistance of a maximum of £ 1.09 Lakh per hectare for three years will cover inputs such as land preparation, young trees, manure, water and screens. Only plantations with 50% or higher survival opportunity, checked via a mobile app, will be eligible for continuous support.
The program is intended to switch the national employment from seasonal wage support to recurring agricultural income, with an expected win of £ 80,000 to £ 1.00,000 per ACRE per year after harvest. In addition, technical support, high -quality plant materials and training are given in collaboration with the Horticulture department.
The chief secretary noted that by combining employment in creating assets, the government of Andhra Pradesh Mgnregs transformed into a long-term lifelife maintenance, which promised both economic growth and environmentally durability.
Published – July 12, 2025 08:20 is ON
#Andhra #Pradesh #promote #horticulture #Lakh #hectare #Mgnregs