Fruit Orchard Development:

     For encouraging farmers to establish fruit orchard on their holdings assistance up to 75% of cost of cultivation is provided to the farmers @ Rs.15750/-per ha of mango, Rs. 11250/- per ha of Cashew, Rs.9658/- per ha of citrus, Rs. 7875/- per ha of litchi and 50% cost of cultivation @ Rs.15000/- per ha of banana under NHM. New fruit orchards consisting 14305 ha. of mango and 6000 ha. of cashew, 600 ha. of anola, 123 ha. of litchi,750 ha of banana and 329 ha of citrus have been established during 2007-08 with an expenditure of Rs.1981 .12 lakhs. The programme will continue in 2008-09 to cover 15500 ha. under compact area plantation of mango, 6000 ha of cashew , 100 ha of litchi , 1800 ha of banana and 650 ha of citrus during 2008-09 with an outlay of Rs.3287.57 lakhs.

Development of Floriculture:

      There is an increasing demand for flowers like rose, gladioli, marigold and tuberose in the State. With a view to encourage farmers of the State to increase their farm income and to create employment opportunities through floriculture, emphasis has been laid on this programme. Under the programme small and marginal farmers are provided assistance up to 50% and other farmers up to 33% of cost of cultivation ranging from Rs 7920/- per ha to Rs 45000/- per ha for taking up commercial cultivation of flowers on their fields. During 2007-08, assistance of Rs.324.14 lakhs have been provided for cultivation of roses, gladioli and marigold on 157 ha., 600 ha and 700 respectively. There is a programme to cover 1700 ha under floriculture with a financial outlay of Rs 387.44 lakhs during 2008-09.

Spices Cultivation:

     Ginger and turmeric are the major spices grown in the State. Although the State has a major share in production of ginger and turmeric, the varieties cultivated are mostly traditional and low yielding. Emphasis is being laid on replacing the traditional varieties with improved ones through a programme under NHM for which assistance @ Rs 11250/- per ha of cultivation is provided.

     During 2007-08, assistance is being provided for cultivation of 800 ha of ginger & 1000 ha of turmeric with an outlay of Rs.212.50 lakhs. Similarly, during 2008-09, it is programmed to provide assistance for 600 ha. of ginger and 800 ha. of turmeric cultivation on farmers field with a financial outlay of Rs.157.50 lakhs.

Orgnaic Farming:

     To promote organic farming of ginger in 500 ha & turmeric in 500 ha assistance is being provided to the farmers with a financial provision of Rs.100.00 lakhs during 2007-08. During 2008-09, the programme will be continued with an financial outlay of Rs. 40.00 lakhs for cultivation of 200 ha of ginger & 200 ha of turmeric.

     625 nos. of vermi compost units have been constructed with a financial expenditure of Rs.52.50 lakhs during 2007-08. Similarly, there is a programme to construct 25,600 no. of vermi compost units with a financial out lay of Rs.817.50 lakhs during 2008-09.

Vegetable Development:

     Vegetable cultivation has tremendous scope in the State due to suitable agro-climatic conditions and growing market demand. Although vegetables have not been included in the thrust crops, 2.50 lakhs vegetable minikits each costing Rs.75/-were distributed during 2007-08 under NHM at a nominal cost of Rs 10/- per kit with an expenditure of Rs. 170.00 lakhs.

     During 2008-09, under this programme Rs 300.00 lakhs will be spent in NHM districts under vegetable seed production.

Human Resource Development Activities:

     During 2007-08, 2250 nos. of farmers have been sent both inside and outside the state on exposure visits to build confidence through cross learning with an expenditure of Rs.36.25 lakhs. Action has been initiated to take up 50 nos. of farmers for supervisor training, 100 unemployed youth for gardener training, 25 nos. of youth for entrepreneur training and 100 nos. of field level functionaries for training on IPM/INM, organic farming & high-tech horticulture with a financial outlay of Rs.100.88 lakhs during 2007-08. It is proposed to send 11500 nos. of farmers both outside and inside the state for up-gradation of their technical knowledge on horticulture during 2008-09 with an financial outlay of Rs.305.91 lakhs.

     800 nos. of bee colonies will be distributed among the farmers under NHM with a financial outlay of Rs.6.40 lakh during 07-08.

Production & supply of Quality Planting Materials:

     Under NHM during 2007-08, 4 model nurseries of 4 ha. area and 3 small nurseries of 1ha area have been established under public sector with an expenditure of Rs.81.00 lakhs. There is a programme to establish 12 such Nurseries under public sector during 2008-09. These nurseries will be established for production of quality planting materials with an financial provision of Rs.116.00 lakhs.

Infrastructure Development:

     Under NHM, Rs 3114.61 lakhs have been proposed under infrastructure development during 2007-08. Under this, it has been programmed to construct 30 pack house units, 5 cold storage units, 8 refrigerated vans, 8 mobile pre-cooling units, 2 mushroom processing units, 3 wholesale markets, one whole sale market for flower, 30 nos. of upgraded rural markets and 30 nos. of functional infrastructure for collection, grading and quality awareness, market laid extension activities for fresh and processed product etc. The programme will be continued in 2008-09.