Chennai, Mar 19 : Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister MRK Panneerselvam today said considering the growing demand for Turmeric and Ginger in national and international markets, the farmers cultivating these crops will be encouraged by providing back ended subsidy for ploughing, seed rhizomes and other inputs. The scheme will be implemented in an area of 6,250 acre at an outlay of Rs.3 crore, he said, while presenting his second agriculture budget in the State Assembly. He said cultivation of Garlic with medicinal value will be expanded to Kalrayan hills, Kolli Hills and other potential places. This scheme will be implemented in an extent of 1,250 acres with an outlay of Rs.1 crore to extend an assistance of Rs.8,000 per acre. He also said traditional varieties in Horticulture Crops will be revived. The traditional varieties of fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants once cultivated in Tamil Nadu have now been under extinction. He said “The seed is the weapon‟ quoting Organic farming icon Nammazhvaar. Keeping this in mind a Gene Pool‟ will be established to preserve these traditional varieties of horticultural crops at State Horticultural Farms. Traditional varieties with Special qualities such as Kannadi kathari, Aandarkulam Kathari, Kottampatti kathari, Vari kathari, Vaasudevanallur kathari in Brinjal, Pallapatti Then murungai, Karumbu murungai in Moringa, Kuzhi thakkali, Kodi thakkali, Annanji thakkali in Tomato, Aanaikomban, Sivappu vendai in Bhendi, etc, will be motivated to cultivate in farmers field. The required vegetable seeds will be produced in State Horticultural Farms and distributed to farmers and public, who wish to grow traditional varieties in the home-stead gardens. The scheme will be implemented at an outlay of Rs.2 crore under on and State Government fund with a subsidy of Rs.8,000 per acre covering an area of 2,500 acres. GV 1449
