New Horticulture policy to boost fruit production

In an attempt to boost production and research activities in the horticulture sector, the state government will come up with a horticulture policy to cover major fruits produced in Maharashtra like mangoes, bananas, cashew nuts, oranges and custard apples (sitaphal).

Minister for Horticulture – Dr. Vijaykumar Gavit elaborated, that earlier the state had a policy to cover only two fruits, grapes and pomegranates. He said, the government was planning to have a separate policy for each of the major horticulture crops like mangoes, bananas, cashew nuts, oranges and custard apples.

“If such policies are evolved, it will boost research and development and help create infrastructure like nurseries for growing these fruits,” he said.

Districts like Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg on the Kokan coast grow the famous Alphonso (Hapus) mangoes and cashew nuts, while Jalgaon in north Maharashtra accounts for a large production of bananas. Similarly, Vidarbha is famous for its oranges.
Gavit said officials had been asked to meet representatives of fruit cultivators’ associations and contribute their views for being incorporated in the proposed policy before it was drafted.

“Change in weather is rapid, so it is important that varieties that can survive in any condition are developed and used,” said Gavit, an NCP legislator from tribal-dominated Nandurbar in North Maharashtra, adding that these varieties could be imported if necessary.

Gavit also said pomegranates, which were grown primarily in the water scarce regions of the state, suffered from an outbreak of a bacterial ‘oil spot’ disease (‘Telya’ in local parlance) and hence, the state government was trying to develop a variety that could resist it. He added that apart from instructing the state agriculture varsities, an agreement had also been signed with Israel for the cultivation of pomegranates, mangoes and citrus fruits.

-- Kokan World --