The Hindu Business Line : Cashew research centre to be set up in Vizag

A CASHEW research centre is to be set up in 100 acres at Sabbavaram in Visakhapatnam district, according to Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, Agriculture Minister.

He was speaking at the regional sugarcane research centre at Anakapalle in Visakhapatnam district on Sunday. The minister said the proposed cashew centre would give a boost to cashew cultivation in the State, especially the north-coastal districts.

Referring to sugarcane cultivation in the State, he said cane was being cultivated in 2.13 lakh acres in the State, with Visakhapatnam district accounting for 50,000 acres. "However, the cane cultivation in the district is rain-fed and the yields are poor,'' he said, and exhorted the scientists at the centre to bring out better varieties by using modern techniques such as cloning.

The Minister said Anakapalle was synonymous with jaggery and it was the second largest jaggery market in the country. However, the farmers should desist from preparing black jaggery used in illicit distillation of liquor. "In the interests of farmers, we have not brought black jaggery under the purview of the excise department. However, all steps should be taken to prevent preparation of black jaggery,'' he said.

The minister said that every year 1 crore tonnes of jaggery was being prepared in the country, of which only 50,000 tonnes was being exported. Poor quality was the main reason. He laid stress on quality improvement.

Mr K. Ramakrishna, Commercial Taxes Minister, said the Government had allocated Rs 200 crore for the revival of four ailing co-operative sugar factories in the State.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Revival of coffee bourse unlikely

Pawar in no hurry for convergence of markets

Tsunami advisory for farmers extended

After tsunami, fishermen have to cope with dwindling catch

Rubber softens on poor demand

Coonoor tea dips

Cashew research centre to be set up in Vizag

Pepper stays steady

Minimum price guaranteed for Dindigul, Theni maize growers