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CHENNAI, April 22

THE Tamil Nadu Government plans to set up a mission for horticulture development to promote integrated cultivation, processing and value addition, besides marketing of flowers, fruits and vegetables.

According to the policy note on agriculture tabled in the Assembly on Monday, the mission mode will involve integration of various aspects from farm to market with special emphasis on dry land horticulture, conservation of water, establishment of agro-economic and export processing zones.

The move follows the emergence of horticulture as the engine of growth in the agriculture sector, which will receive a policy thrust in 2002-03, the note said.

This will involve development of wastelands, increasing production and productivity of horticultural crops, year-round production of vegetables to maintain a sustained supply to the markets, focus on post-harvest management to reduce waste, large-scale production of quality planting material, intensifying hi-tech horticulture and the focussed development of commercial floriculture.

Under the wasteland development programme, the production of pedigree planting material will be doubled in 2002 to meet the planting requirement in 2003. Under the comprehensive wasteland development programme announced in 2001, which according to Government estimates is likely to cost about Rs 1,485 crore, three components have been identified. These are — the development of 18.5 lakh hectares through participatory watershed development method for rainfed agro-forestry and fruit trees, development of one-lakh hectares through the corporate sector and measures to tackle the salinity problem in 0.5 lakh hectares.

The Government plans to develop food-processing industries along the lines of the Punjab model with the involvement of the private sector or the market committees. The policy note said in line with the policy of the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries, the State Government proposes to set up food parks to provide farm-industry linkages to augment farmers' income and generate employment.

The Punjab model involves establishment of a hub of common facilities for agro-processing units in a 50-km radius. The initial capital outlay is low and small agro-processing units and the farmers can use the services at an affordable cost.

Currently, a Rs 11.65-crore food park is being set up by a private promoter in Virudhunagar district, along the lines of the industrial estate model, the note said.

Cold storages will also be set up in various parts of the State in conjunction with the establishment of a refrigerated transport system.

This will link the farms to cold stores and the retail markets. Here, too, the private sector will be encouraged.

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TN plans mission mode to promote horticulture

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