The inclusion of Shimoga district under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikasa Yojana (RKVY) is expected to give a boost to floriculture here.

Under RKVY, subsidy will be extended to farmers who opt for protected cultivation methods such as construction of polyhouse and installation of shade-nets in their farms. The farmers can avail subsidy of Rs. 4.1 lakh for constructing polyhouse measuring 1,000 square metres and an amount of Rs. 16.40 lakh for constructing polyhouse measuring 4,000 square metres. Similarly, a subsidy of Rs. 1.15 lakh can be availed for installing shade-net measuring 500 square metres and Rs. 9.45 lakh for shade-net measuring 4,000 square metres.

Deputy Director of Horticulture M. Vishwanath told The Hindu that RKVY had been implemented in 11 districts in the State, including Shimoga. An amount of Rs 1.08 crore had been sanctioned for the district under the scheme in 2012-13 to extend subsidy to farmers.

He said that as the climate in Malnad region was conducive for floriculture and the returns from it were also lucrative, farmers had showed interest in it. He said that 28 farmers were growing flowers and vegetables in the district in polyhouses at present.

Old scheme

So far, the farmers in the district used to avail subsidy under the National Horticulture Mission (NHM) to set up polyhouses. Under , Rs. 4.67 lakh is paid as subsidy to set up polyhouse measuring 1,000 square metres, and Rs. 9.34 lakh is paid as subsidy to setup polyhouse measuring 2,000 square metres.

However, availing loan from the bank was mandatory to claim the subsidy under this scheme. It was difficult for farmers who had already taken bank loans to avail this scheme. Such farmers can now avail subsidy under RKVY as borrowing loan from banks is not mandatory in this scheme.

Under NHM, the maximum size of the polyhouse to avail the subsidy is 2,000 square metres while under RKVY, subsidy is offered to set up polyhouse measuring up to 4,000 square metres. Mr. Vishwanath said that those who have set up polyhouse under NHM can go for expansion by availing further subsidy under RKVY.

He said owing to the introduction of RKVY in the district, there would be a rapid expansion of the area under floriculture. The NHM will also be available, under which those interested to set up polyhouse measuring up to 2,000 square metre and those who are eligible for bank loan can avail the subsidy, he said.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> National> Karnataka / by Veerandra P.M. / Shimoga, February 14th, 2013