Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Set Up An Indian Institute Of Horticulture Research At Krishnagiri, Tamil ... on 16 December, 2014
Sixteenth Loksabha an> Title: Need to set up an Indian Institute of Horticulture Research at Krishnagiri, Tamil nadu.
SHRI K. ASHOK KUMAR (KRISHNAGIRI): In Krishnagiri district, Tamil Nadu Mango is grown on large scale and gives higher income to the farmers. Every year 3 lakh metric tonnes of high quality mangos like Alphonso and Totapuri are produced in Krishnagiri district. 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of mango pulp are produced and exported to East Asian countries and Arab countries. Krishnagiri district is the highest mango exporter in the world and having 73 private mango pulp industries. The climatic condition as well as the soils are suitable for large quantity of mango production in Krishnagiri district. The government earns foreign exchange of Rs 400 crore exporting mango pulp and hybrid roses respectively. The Government of Tamil Nadu has been giving 100 per cent subsidy on mango plantation through National Horticulture Mission.
Soils in Mango Gardens have less Micro Nutrients like Iron, Boron, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Molybdenum and Copper. These soils require the above Micronutrients, both foliar application and soil application every year. In general, farmers apply micronutrients only when crops show deficiency symptoms, while micronutrient deficiencies decrease yields before symptoms appear. Some common farming practices contribute to widespread occurrence of micronutrient deficiencies in crops by decreasing the availability of the micronutrients present in the soil. In addition, the mango farmers growing high yielding hybrid roses and vegetables in my district require high planting and plant protection technologies.
Hence, I request the Government to open an Indian Institute of Horticulture Research Branch at Krishnagiri and provide 50 per cent subsidy for micro nutrients to the farmers to increase mango production.