A spokesman of the Horticulture Department said here today that the State Government had initiated many schemes for the welfare of horticulturists of the State to strengthen them economically.
He said that during last four years, the Horticulture Department was providing 80 percent subsidy on anti hailnets to safeguard the crops from the hailstorms. He said that 4543940 sq. meter area had been covered under anti-hail nets and 1358 farmers and horticulturists were provided with an amount of Rs. 511.29 lakh. Districts Shimla, Mandi, Chamba, Kullu etc. were being covered under weather-based insurance scheme to safeguard farmers of affected areas from hailstorms.
He said that under World Bank Horticulture Development Project, imported cultivar of root stocks of apple and fruit plants were inspected by Professor and Head plant disease department, Dr. Y.S. Parmar Horticulture and Forestry University Nauni. Five samples of Radlam Gala plants at Sarahan, Duttnagar and Pangana had shown symptoms of phytoplasma like virus. The department got these plants tested at Institute of Himalayan Bio Resources Technology Palampur and there was no infection according to test reports.
He said during last four years under Plant Protection Programme, high quality plant protection medicines were being provided. He said that in year 2013-14 457.318 metric tonne medicines with subsidy of Rs. 529.53 lakh, for year 2014-15 347.98 metric tonne medicines with subsidy of Rs. 546.01 lakh, for year 2015-16 338.639 metric tonne medicines with subsidy of Rs. 524.553 lakh and for year 2016-17 295.350 metric tonne medicines with subsidy of Rs. 531.941 lakh were provided.
He said that during year 2013-14 to 2016-17, the loss in fruit crops has been registered as Rs. 251.86 crore. Horticultural implements, plant conservation medicines and fruit plants were distributed among affected horticulturists with an aid of Rs. 20.26 crore. He said that Rs. 2 crore were allocated for the plant protection medicines on directorate level.
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