Here is some good news for those who are looking for funds to do hi-tech and precision farming in the state. The Kerala government has decided to provide funds to those who are willing to do open precision and vertical farming.
The State Horticulture Mission – Kerala will implement the Open Precision Farming scheme in the state offering financial assistance under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.
According to agriculture officials, the scheme will be first implemented in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasargod districts. As per an official release of the state government, funding will be given to units doing cultivation with drip irrigation facilities and plastic mulching. “A financial assistance of Rs 96,000 per hectare for bananas and Rs 91,000 per hectare for vegetables will be allowed,” the release said.
The government has decided to promote Arka vertical model farming to achieve self-sufficiency in vegetable cultivation and increase non-toxic vegetable production. The vertical model of vegetable cultivation (Hydroponics) will be promoted in urban and semi-urban areas of the state. The project is being implemented under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana through the State Horticulture Mission under Department of Agriculture with the technical assistance of the Indian Institute of Horticulture Research (ICAR).
As per the details, 16 plant pots with a 4-tiered Arka vertical garden structure that can be installed in one square meter area, 80 kg of Coco Peat, seeds of crops like red spinach, chilies, palak (spinach), coriander, eggplant, tomatoes, plant nutrients, and preservatives, 25-liter storage capacity drip irrigation facility, with wheels attached to change the position according to the availability of sunlight.
A unit of Arka Vertical Garden at a total cost of Rs 22,100 will be made available to the beneficiaries by the State Horticulture Mission with the financial assistance of Rs 10,525. For more details on the two schemes, log on to www.shm.kerala.gov.in or call 0471-2330857, 9188954089.
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