Rs 300 crore drip irrigation plan for horticultural crops in Andhra Pradesh
ELURU: The State Government has decided to promote drip irrigation in a big way for horticultural crops. As part of the initiative to conserve water, the Andhra Pradesh Micro Irrigation Project (APMIP) has evolved a plan with an outlay of Rs 300 crore for the financial year 2017-18 and submitted it to the State Government for approval.
Addressing a meeting of agriculture and horticulture officials here on Friday, APMIP Project Officer A Surya Prakasha Rao said Andhra Pradesh was in the forefront in drip irrigation.
About Rs 200 crore was spent on drip irrigation last fiscal. Horticulturists are evincing keen interest in drip irrigation as it helps conserve water, besides increasing the yield.
Coconut, oil palm, cocoa and other crops are being raised using the method which is cost-effective in the long run. About 17 lakh acres of land has been covered under the drip irrigation in the State as part of set targets.
A drip irrigation target of 25,000 hectares was set for West Godavari district for the current fiscal and 7,000 hectares has been covered under it so far. Efforts are being made to realise the set target by the end of the current fiscal.
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) lauded the initiative of the State Government in promoting drip irrigation, he said, urging the officials to strive to realise the set target for the current fiscal.
Source:
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2017/feb/04/rs-300-crore-drip-irrigation-plan-for-horticultural-crops-in-andhra-pradesh-1566825.html
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