Horticulture Sericulture

BRIEF NOTES ON HORTICULTURE SERICULTURE ACTIVITIES IN SANGAREDDY DISTRICT

Sangareddy District comprises 28 mandals with a total horticultural area of 36,752 acres. The district has a diversified horticulture sector with cultivation of a wide range of fruit, vegetable, spice, plantation, and flower crops.

The major horticultural crops cultivated in the district include Mango covering 16,111 acres, followed by Vegetable Crops (5,782 acres), Plantation Crops (3,590 acres), Spices (2,630 acres), Guava (1,828 acres), Banana (1,562 acres), and Flower Crops (252 acres). Among these, Mango is the predominant horticultural crop and occupies the largest area under cultivation in the district.

The Department of Horticulture, Sangareddy is implementing various Centrally Sponsored and State Government Schemes for promotion of horticulture crops, increasing productivity, improving water use efficiency, creation of post-harvest infrastructure and enhancing farmers’ income.

The major activities of the Department are as follows:

1. National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP)

• National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) is being implemented in all suitable mandals of Sangareddy District to promote Oil Palm cultivation and enhance domestic edible oil production.
• M/s Godrej Agrovet Ltd. has been allotted as the authorized Oil Palm Company for Sangareddy District. The company has established a 60-acre Oil Palm Nursery at Potpally Village, Jharasangam Mandal, which has been supplying quality planting material to farmers since 2023-24.
• Farmers are encouraged to adopt Oil Palm cultivation through awareness programmes, field demonstrations, exposure visits and training programmes for crop diversification.
• Administrative sanctions are issued to eligible farmers, and quality planting material is supplied through the authorized Oil Palm Company.
• Financial assistance is provided under the scheme towards:
• 90% subsidy on quality planting material.
• Maintenance assistance of ₹2,100 per acre per year during the gestation period(Upto four years)
• Intercropping assistance of ₹2,100 per acre per year for up to four years.
• Assistance for Drip Irrigation Systems, Harvesting Tools and Farm Ponds as per Government norms.
• Regular field inspections are conducted to monitor plantation progress, ensure quality implementation and facilitate timely submission of subsidy proposals.
• So far, 4,377 acres of Oil Palm have been brought under cultivation in Sangareddy District under NMEO-OP.
• The first commercial harvest of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFBs) from these plantations is expected to commence from September 2026.

1. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)

• Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) is being implemented to promote holistic growth of the horticulture sector through area expansion, protected cultivation, horticulture mechanization, post-harvest management and creation of water resources.
• Financial assistance is provided for establishment of new fruit crop gardens such as Mango, Guava, Dragon Fruit, Papaya and Banana as per MIDH norms. Subsidy is provided at 40% admissible unit cost, released in two years (60:40) for Mango, Guava and Dragon Fruit, Acid lime ,Papaya and Banana.
• Hybrid vegetable seedlings are supplied to farmers on subsidy to promote cultivation of quality vegetable crops and enhance productivity.
• Under the Area Expansion component of MIDH, financial assistance is provided for cultivation of flower and spice crops with 40% subsidy of the admissible unit cost, as per MIDH Norms
• Financial assistance is provided for Plastic Mulching with 50% subsidy for fruit and vegetable crops, which helps in moisture conservation, weed control, efficient nutrient utilization and improvement in crop yield and quality.
• Assistance is also provided under various MIDH components such as protected cultivation, horticulture mechanization, integrated post-harvest management, bee keeping, creation of water resources and marketing infrastructure as per Government norms.

III. National Bamboo Mission (NBM)

• National Bamboo Mission (NBM) is being implemented to promote bamboo cultivation in non-forest and private lands, thereby enhancing farmers’ income, improving climate resilience and ensuring the availability of quality bamboo planting material.
• Financial assistance is provided for Block Plantation, Boundary Plantation, establishment of nurseries and capacity building programmes for farmers.
• Subsidy for Boundary Plantation: Assistance of ₹150 per plant is provided in two instalments, comprising ₹90 per plant during the first year and ₹60 per plant during the second year, subject to satisfactory survival.
• Subsidy for Block Plantation: Assistance of ₹24,000 per acre is provided in two instalments, comprising ₹14,400 per acre during the first year and ₹9,600 per acre during the second year, subject to satisfactory survival.

1. RKVY – Per Drop More Crop (Micro Irrigation)

• The RKVY – Per Drop More Crop (Micro Irrigation) scheme is being implemented to improve water use efficiency, enhance crop productivity and promote efficient utilization of irrigation water through the adoption of Micro Irrigation Systems.
• Financial assistance is provided for installation of Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation Systems to eligible farmers as per Telangana Micro Irrigation Project (TGMIP)
• Subsidy Pattern for Drip Irrigation:
• 90% subsidy for SC/ST farmers.
• 80% subsidy for Small and Marginal Farmers (below 5 acres).
• 70% subsidy for Other farmers (above 5 acres).
• Subsidy Pattern for Sprinkler Irrigation:
• 65% subsidy for eligible farmers as per TGMIP norms.
• Priority is given to installation of Micro Irrigation Systems in fruit crops, vegetables, spices, flowers and Oil Palm to improve water use efficiency and increase crop productivity.

1. RKVY – Agro Forestry

• The RKVY – Agroforestry scheme is being implemented to promote tree plantation on agricultural lands with the objective of increasing farm income, enhancing green cover and improving carbon sequestration.
• The scheme encourages cultivation of timber and multipurpose tree species such as Mahogany, Teak, Neem and other suitable species under agroforestry systems.
• Agroforestry seedlings raised in Government Horticulture Nurseries are supplied to farmers free of cost to encourage tree plantation on farm lands.
• Capacity-building programmes, awareness campaigns and technical guidance are provided to farmers for successful establishment and management of agroforestry plantations.

1. RKVY – Permanent Pandal Cultivation

• Under RKVY, Permanent Pandal Cultivation is promoted to encourage cultivation of creeper vegetables such as Ridge Gourd, Bitter Gourd, Bottle Gourd, Sponge Gourd and Coccinia.
• Permanent pandals improve crop quality, increase productivity and facilitate better crop management.
• Financial assistance is provided with 50% subsidy, subject to a maximum of ₹50,000 per unit for construction of permanent pandals.
• A maximum of five units per beneficiary are eligible for assistance under the scheme.