TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The State government on Thursday introduced a scheme ‘Development of Horticulture’ with the stated objective to increase the area and productivity of horticultural crops, floriculture and quality vegetables. It also seeks to create irrigation infrastructure to support horticulture and other agriculture activities.
“The small and fragmented holdings coupled with high cost of labour have increased the cost of cultivation with corresponding fall in income in recent years. It is therefore proposed to support this sector with various incentives and assistance,” the notification reads.
Government would be providing financial assistance for cultivation of coconut, banana, pineapple, papaya, flowers, fruits and spices.
The assistance provided by Government of India scheme National Horticulture Mission (NHM) and Coconut Development Board would be adjusted within this subsidy.
Minimum area for assistance for cultivation of coconut, pineapple, banana, papaya, floriculture is 0.1 ha, while it is proposed to be 0.2 ha in case of other crops, notification added.
As per the scheme, all land owners willing to cultivate agricultural/ horticultural crops are eligible to avail the benefits provided the land shall be in his/her own name or inherited or taken on lease for a period of not less than 10 years. Those holding land on lease should have a valid lease period of at least five years on the date of application.
