The Horticulture Department will establish two Centres
of Excellence, one for export-based flowers in Krishnagiri district, and
another for cultivating quality vegetables in Dindigul district, each
at an estimate of Rs.9.70 crore.
Speaking at the
inaugural of a workshop on ‘Attracting and retaining youth in
agriculture’ here on Saturday, L. Sitherasenan, Director of
Horticulture, said the flower centre would come up at Thali with Israel
technological collaboration. The focus would be on production of
export-based cut rose flowers. “Farmers would be trained in immediate
cultivation of flowers, steps for pre-cooling and the procedure to be
followed for its export within the stipulated time to meet export norms.
Seven poly houses were under construction. The other infrastructure
included Farmers Training Centre, pre-cooling centre besides shade nets
for open cultivation.”
He said about 3,600 flower
growers would benefit from the programme which would be opened in a
couple of months. The price per flower would be between Rs.15 and Rs. 20
for export-quality flowers and between Rs.3 and Rs.7.50 for non-export
quality flowers. Mr. Sitherasenan said the centre of excellence for
vegetables in Dindigul district would focus on producing tomato,
brinjal, chillies and capsicum. While the yellow and red capsicum would
be export-based, the green capsicum would be for domestic consumption,
he added. This centre would be inaugurated within three months and civil
works are currently in progress.
Source : The Hindu
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