Ranchi, Aug.9: The State government is committed to empower farmers and further develop the agricultural sector. Gone are the days when the farmers of Jharkhand were dependent on traditional farming methods. With the help from the government, these farmers are now practising multi-crop farming and are paving the way for economic self-reliance by producing fruits, vegetables, medicinal plants, honey, etc.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren discussed with the officers in the Agriculture Department’s review meeting that the climatic and geographical conditions of the state are quite suitable for horticulture crops. Given its hilly area, there is huge potential for the cultivation of horticultural crops and more farmers should be associated with the cultivation of horticulture crops. After the chief minister’s directions, farmers are being motivated and trained by the Agriculture Department to be involved in the production of fruits, vegetables, medicinal plants, honey, and other profitable crops. This has helped increase the farmer income and is strengthening the rural economy.
Farmers are taking up fruit farming
After the government intervention, the farmers of the state have also expressed increased interest in fruit production. As per the record, in the year 2020-21, 100.27 thousand hectares of land were used to cultivate fruits while yielding 1203.64 thousand metric tonnes of fruit. The production rate was approximately 12 tonnes per hectare compared to the national productivity rate of 14.82 metric tonnes per hectare. In the same period, vegetable cultivation was done on 295.95 thousand hectares of land, yielding 3603.41 thousand metric tonnes of vegetables. The vegetable production rate was 12.17 tonnes per hectare in comparison with the national productivity rate of 18.4 MT per hectare.
Apart from the above, Jharkhand is also leading in floriculture. In Jharkhand, farmers have produced 4.64 thousand metric tonnes of flowers by cultivating flowers in 0.99 thousand hectares. Flower production was 4.68 tonnes per hectare.
Boosting production
Due to the awareness drives run by the government, the farmers of Jharkhand are aware of the profit yielded by harvesting horticulture crops. Given this, in the current financial year, fruit cultivation is being done on 110.57 thousand hectares. So far, production of 1337.897 thousand metric tons has been achieved with a productivity rate of 12.1 tonnes per hectare, in addition to this, vegetable cultivation is being done on 304 thousand hectares. So far, 4061.44 metric tonnes of vegetables have been produced. Flowers were cultivated in 1.1 thousand hectares of land with a production of 5.522 thousand tonnes of flowers.
Training programme to increase production
To increase the production of horticulture crops, a 90-day training programme is being organized for the farmers. The goal is to provide the latest information about horticulture crops and promote urban farming in municipal areas. Additionally, the state government has planned to establish pack houses, preservation units, cold rooms, ripening chambers etc across the state to provide infrastructure facilities to the farmers. Greenhouse and plastic mulching techniques are also being promoted for vegetable and flower cultivation.
55 per cent subsidy to farmers for the establishment of processing units
The state government has proposed the establishment of processing units to minimize damage to horticulture crops in the state. The setting up of a processing unit for vegetables and spices, especially for tomato, ginger, chilli, garlic, and jackfruit powder has been proposed. Also, the scheme proposes a grant of 55 per cent of the project cost per unit.
Government prioritizes increasing the purchasing power of farmers
Under horticulture crops, fruits, vegetables, medicinal plants, floriculture and honey production is done. Due to horticulture, farmers of Jharkhand are now practising multi-crop farming. The priority of the government is to increase the purchasing power of farmers. As per the instructions of the Chief Minister, attention is being given to the issue of shortage of cold storage.
Capacity building of farmers
In the FY 2021-22, a 25-day capacity development residential training programme will be conducted to train more than 1200 farmers in beekeeping and its marketing, thereby making them self-reliant. Also, a total of 8000 rural youth will be trained under a 25 days certificate course residential training programme designed for gardeners, to promote self-employment through gardening business. Additionally, a 05-day certificate training course has been designed for the farmers involved in mushroom production.
Establishment of Herbal Park proposed
To generate maximum employment opportunities through herbal farming in the first phase, the state government is establishing a pilot Herbal Park in Jharkhand.
The government has envisioned empowerment of farmers through horticulture, for which the government is providing all possible support. Given this, farmers are also showing an increased interest in the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
