To increase productivity, and familiarise farmers to the state-of-art technology, an exhibition, and training programme was held at Government Fruit Farm at Karumandurai here on Thursday.
District Collector K. Maharabushanam inaugurated the exhibition. P. Saroja, MLA, and officials from Departments of Horticulture and Agriculture were present.
He said mango, jack fruit, and medicinal plants were present at Kalvarayan Hills, located at an altitude of 815m, for many years.
“Tribal people here used to cultivate these apart from small millets,” he added.
The Collector said that the average rainfall is 1,200mm. Clay sand was present at the hills.
A farm was established during 1981-82 at 1,037 acres.
Mango, sapota, guava, pomegranate, and other fruits were cultivated here.
About six lakh saplings were sold to farmers fetching a revenue of Rs. 75 lakh every year, he said.
The Collector inspected the two water bodies in the farm, and asked officials to clean them to improve storage. Fruits that were traditionally available in the hill were displayed.
Scientists explained to the farmers the measures to increase productivity, and the use modern gadgets available with the department.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/horticulture-exhibition-held/article6641988.ece