By Dr C.O. Rangad*
The geo-climatic situation of Meghalaya offers an excellent scope for growing of different types of horticultural crops including Fruits, Vegetables, Spices, Plantation Plantation
Growing of horticulture crops has the following distinct advantage over the traditional food crops:
i) Most of the horticulture crops are perennial in nature and offer larger bio-mass production;
ii) Horticulture crops and their products have high potentiality for export and foreign exchange earning;
iii) It enables productive and economic utilization of cultivable wasteland;
iv) Generates rural employment opportunities;
v) Provides viable alternative to shifting cultivation;
vi) Check soil erosion and improves ecological balance.
WHERE WE STAND
- The total cropped area in the State during 2004-05 was 2, 65,874 Hectares which is 11.85% of the total geographical area (22.42 lakh Ha); while the net cropped area is 2, 19,224 Hectares, which is 10% of the geographical area.
- The total area under fruit crops is 26.23 thousand hectares.
- Among fruit crops, maximum area is under Pineapple (9.5 thousand ha) followed by Citrus (8.2 thousand ha) and banana (6.2 thousand ha).
- Total area under vegetable crops is 11.94 thousand hectares.
- It has second largest acreage of potato (20.8 thousand ha) after
Assam - It has sizeable area under cabbage, cauliflower, radish and chow-chow, which are grown as off-season vegetables and mostly marketed out side the State.
- As far as spices are concerned, Meghalaya is one of the leading States in case of ginger production (9.2 thousand ha) and also one of the leading producers of quality turmeric.
- Arecanut and Cashewnut are leading plantation crops followed by Tea. Total area under plantation crops is 17.99 thousand hectares.
- The State’s latest foray into high value low volume crops namely, Strawberry and commercial floriculture like Rose, Liliums, Anthuriums, Carnations, Birds of paradise is very promising. High value vegetables like Brocolli and Capsicum are also being expanded through the Technology Mission Scheme.
KEY ISSUES
· The State has demonstrated the vast potentialities on Horticulture Development. The Centre of Excellence for Rose, Strawberry and Anthurium has shown the potentialities of breaking new frontiers in horticultural revolution in the State.
· Various State Plan schemes under general Horticulture for development of fruits, vegetables, plantation crops and spices were taken up on promotional basis.
· Under the Technology Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, more facilities could be provided in the form of assistance to the individual and group of farmers.
· The area expansion of vegetables, flowers, spices and fruit crops have help in improving the economic livelihood of the farmers.
· The construction of community tank, Vermi-compost units, green houses, irrigation facilities like tube wells, drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation and the provision of improved power and manually operated farm implements and tools are also the incentives that have made a difference.
THRUST AREAS:
· Fruit Sector: - Khasi Mandari – rejuvenation and area expansion; Pineapple- area expansion and processing.
· Temperate fruit sector: - plum, peaches, pears, kiwi fruit etc.
· Indigenous fruit sector: - popularization and commercialization of indigenous crops like sohiong, sohphie etc.
· Vegetable sector: - production of off-season vegetables, potatoes and seed production.
· Production of low-volume and high value crops like strawberry, capsicum, broccoli etc. and flowers like roses, anthurium, carnation, bird of paradise etc.
· Cultivation of cash crops like Black pepper, cashewnut
· Tapping of ground water potential
· Improvement and encouraging mechanization in horticulture and processing sector.
· Integrated Pest management with stress on training of Officers.
· Stress on Organic farming for spices like ginger & turmeric, fruits and vegetables.
· Encouraging protected cultivation by using plastic and shade nets in horticulture.
· Research and Development.
· Post-harvest management including cold chain, grading, packaging and assured marketing.
· Involvement of women groups in horticulture activities.
GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS
The total number of state plan schemes in the state: 36 Nos
Total number of Nurseries: 24 Nos
Total number of processing units: 2 Nos
Horticulture Hubs: It is now proposed to set up 5 new Horticulture Hubs in addition to the ones at Ri – Bhoi and East Garo Hills District
Cold Chains: They will also be set up to stimulate and speed up horticulture development and marketing.
Tissue Culture Lab:1 No.
CONSTRAINTS:
o Low to very low productivity of crops;
o Lack of assured irrigation facility;
o Poor agro-mechanisation process;
o Unscientific land use;
o Poor economic condition of the farmers, remoteness of the area and backwardness;
o Non-viability of proven quality planting materials suitable to the State;
o Inadequate extension service in dissemination of improved production technology to the growers due to lack of adequate manpower at the field level;
o Absence of appropriate post-harvest technology;
o Lack of storage and processing facilities;
o Lack of organized market infrastructure;
PRESENT ACHIEVEMENTS
Horticulture crops like Pineapple, Banana, Chillies, Sweet Potato, Turmeric, Tapioca and Papaya have registered significant increase in the area and production. Besides, Tea and Mushroom cultivation has also been successfully established in the State. A scheme for Tea Cultivation which was limited to the three districts only has been extended to other districts also. Citrus Development Scheme aims to rejuvenate the Citrus Plantation /Industry in the State through new planting by setting up of new Orchards and by way of providing Financial Assistance to local tribal farmers. Fruit Development Scheme aims at strengthening the Fruit cultivation including supply of planting materials and financial assistance to Farmers. Horticulture Indigenous plants are also being popularized. Special mention may be made to the programmes under Technology Mission for Horticulture Development funded by the Govt. of India through the State SFAC which is being implemented in all the seven Districts of the State. Under this programme substantial achievement have been made in high value low volume crops namely strawberry and commercial Floriculture like Rose, Liliums, Anthuriums, Carnations and Birds of Paradise. High Value Vegetables like Brocolli and capsicum are also being expanded. By the implementation of this programme, progress have been made in the increase of productivity of Horticulture crops through Mini Mission II by way of introduction of advanced technology, inputs and high quality planting materials and also by helping to setup market infrastructure for Rural and Whole Sale markets through Mini Mission III. The programme has also addressed the post harvest and marketing aspects by encouraging private entrepreneurs to set up post harvest facilities under Mini Mission IV.
The Directorate has proposed several major scheme in the Annual Plan 2008-09 which include proposals for Manure & Fertilizers, Plant Protection, Commercial Crops (such as Plantation Crops, Spices, Mushroom, Experimental Tea Plantation, Package Tea & Indigenous Crops), Horticulture & Vegetable Crops (which includes Vegetable, Grant-in-aid to Hort. Societies, Citrus Development, Fruit Development, Esstt. of Large Sized Hort. Nurseries, Esstt. of Directorate of Horticulture, Floriculture, Strawberry, Rose, Anthurium & Modern Floriculture Centre).
There has been an increase in cropped area, total production and yield per hectare in many cultivated crops in the State since the commencement of the State. The marked increase in some of the Horticulture crops can be seen in the table below:-
Sl. No | Crops | Physical Terms | Year | Rate of increase (%) | |
1984-85 | 2005-06 | ||||
1 | Fruit crops | Area in Ha. | 19,608 | 28180 | 43.71 |
Production in MT. | 1,74,489 | 231595 | 32.72 | ||
Productivity KG/Ha. | 54245 | 50069 | (-)2.30 | ||
2 | Vegetables | Area in Ha. | 4882 | 13400 | 74.47 |
Production in MT. | 45,510 | 142240 | 12.54 | ||
Productivity KG/Ha. | 9321 | 10615 | 13.88 | ||
3 | Spices | Area in Ha. | 16,325 | 18570 | 13.75 |
Production in MT. | 44,894 | 73555 | 63.84 | ||
Productivity KG/Ha. | 9931 | 15354 | 54.60 | ||
4 | Tuber crops | Area in Ha. | 26,570 | 28295 | 6.49 |
Production in MT. | 1,83,205 | 198090 | 8.12 | ||
Productivity KG/Ha. | 16740 | 17414 | 4.02 | ||
5 | Area in Ha. | 6695 | 18870 | 81.85 | |
Production in MT. | 6434 | 22740 | 53.43 | ||
Productivity KG/Ha. | 961 | 4494 | 67.63 | ||
SECTOR WISE TARGETS AND ACHIEVEMENTS ON PRODUCTION OF DIFFERENT HORTICULTURAL CROPS DURING 2007 – 08 AND
ANNUAL PLAN TARGET PLAN 2008 - 09
Item | Unit | 11th Plan Target (2007-2012) | Annual Plan 2007-08 | Target Annual Plan 2008-09 | |
Target | Achievement anticipated | ||||
1. Fruit Crops | ‘000 tonnes | 291.98 | 234.33 | 234.33 | 289.47 |
2. Vegetables | ‘000 tonnes | 170.02 | 145.49 | 145.49 | 156.98 |
3. Tuber Crops | ‘000 tonnes | 246.69 | 199.92 | 199.92 | 230.49 |
4. Spices | ‘000 tonnes | 95.78 | 74.45 | 74.45 | 75.78 |
5. | ‘000 tonnes | 32.29 | 23.01 | 23.01 | 34.46 |
6. Floriculture | ‘000 tonnes | 46.30 | 44.60 | 44.60 | 45.00 |
LONG TERM PHYSICAL TARGETS
The targets on Area, Production and Productivity for Horticulture Crops is given below:-
Area = in Hectares, Production = in Metric Tonnes, Yield = in Kg / Hec
Sl. no. | ELEVENTH PLAN TARGET | TARGET FOR 2024 - 25. | |||||
NAME OF THE CROP | AREA | PRODUCTION | AVERAGE YIELD | AREA | PRODUCTION | AVERAGE YIELD | |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
1 | FRUIT CROPS | ||||||
I) Pineapple | 9720 | 86270 | 8875.5 | 15300 | 183830 | 12015 | |
ii) Citrus Fruits | 8450 | 35280 | 4175.1 | 11000 | 74700 | 6791 | |
iii) Banana | 5800 | 67680 | 11669 | 9440 | 127860 | 13544 | |
iv) Papaya | 850 | 7080 | 8329.4 | 1140 | 9635 | 8452 | |
v)Temperate Fruits | 1080 | 5670 | 5250 | 1100 | 6540 | 5945 | |
vi) Misc. Fruits | 3400 | 37450 | 11015 | 3390 | 39600 | 11681 | |
Total Fruits | 29300 | 239430 | 49314 | 41370 | 442165 | 10688 | |
2 | VEGETABLES | 15200 | 160800 | 10579 | 22630 | 242900 | 10734 |
3 | TUBER CROPS | ||||||
i) Potato | 19100 | 180200 | 9434.6 | 29260 | 330398 | 11292 | |
ii) Sweet Potato | 5540 | 20330 | 3669.7 | 8827 | 38256 | 4334 | |
iii) Tapioca | 4340 | 24100 | 5553 | 7050 | 42500 | 6028 | |
Total Tuber Crops | 28980 | 224630 | 18657.3 | 45137 | 411154 | 9109 | |
4 | SPICE CROPS | ||||||
I) Ginger | 9400 | 54520 | 5800 | 15200 | 117200 | 7711 | |
ii) Turmeric | 1830 | 10750 | 5874.3 | 2900 | 23000 | 7931 | |
iii) Chillies | 2000 | 14100 | 7050 | 2790 | 2300 | 824 | |
iv) Garlic | - | - | - | ||||
v) Black Pepper | 800 | 590 | 738 | 825 | 660 | 800 | |
vi) Tezpata | 6260 | 16275 | 2599.8 | 6380 | 17800 | 2790 | |
Total Spice Crops | 20290 | 96235 | 22062.1 | 28095 | 160960 | 5729 | |
5 | |||||||
I) Tea | 1350 | 3835 | 2840.7 | 1800 | 3680 | 2044 | |
ii) Arecanut | 11810 | 14820 | 1254.9 | 16500 | 30000 | 1818 | |
iii) Cashewnut | 6450 | 6420 | 995 | 11050 | 13150 | 1190 | |
Total plantation crops | 19610 | 25075 | 5090.6 | 29350 | 46830 | 1596 | |
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
The Horticulture Directorate is implementing schemes and programmes for upliftment of horticulture development in the State. For the first time , the Department has introduced and encouraged the farmers to opt for low volume, high income, high value short duration cropping venture. In this regard, special mention may be made to the programmes under the Technology Mission for Horticulture Development funded by Government of India through the State SFAC for increasing the area and production of horticulture crops. Under the programme, significant achievement is made on the following:-
1. Strawberry cultivation and Rose Project in Ri Bhoi District.
2. Floriculture and Off-Season Vegetables cultivation in East Khasi Hills.
3. Anthurium Project in East Garo Hills.
CONCLUSION
Agriculture Marketing plays a vital role in development of rural economy. A properly organized marketing system ensures remunerative return to the farmers for their produce and in turn help in augmentation of production. Meghalaya has immense scope for development of horticulture through diversification and intensification of production plans.
The market demand for horticultural products is ever increasing due to growth in population as well as economic development and capita income. The most important advantage, however, is the market potentiality of horticulture produces that are grown and can be grown in the state and the feasibility of distant marketing.
In addition, the following issues needs to be addressed:-
v Improve the productivity of land through production and supply of disease free and good quality planting materials, use of improved adaptable technology etc.
v Reduce cost of production by mass multiplication of planting materials, efficient use of inputs etc.
v Improve quality of products by adopting international and national standards.
v Value addition to horticultural products.
v Adopt practices like organic farming to capture export market.
v Strengthen the organizational support and infrastructure.
v Focus on human resource development in horticulture.
* The author is presently the Director of Horticulture in the Government of Meghalaya
No comments:
Post a Comment