Plants will be made available to farmers at government rates : Dr. Gupta

From February 9 onwards, the Horticulture Department will distribute fruit plants to farmers at government rates in Mashobra and Basantpur. Dr. Sharad Gupta, subject expert of the department, Mashobra, said that in the first phase, certified and disease-free plants of apple, persimmon (Japanese fruit), plum, apricot and kiwi will be made available to the farmers. In which apple (Gala variety) plant will be made available for Rs. 180, apricot plant for Rs. 90, persimmon for Rs. 150, plum for Rs. 80 and kiwi plant for Rs. 100.
Dr. Gupta stated that the plants will be distributed on a “first-come, first-served” basis. The department has appealed to all interested farmers to contact the relevant division office promptly to obtain information on the availability of plants according to their needs. He added that, keeping in mind the changing climatic conditions of the hilly regions, alternative fruit crops such as persimmon and kiwi have been specifically included, allowing orchardists to diversify beyond traditional apples.
Dr. Gupta advised farmers to properly prepare the pits in their fields before planting the seedlings. Adding well-rotted cow dung or compost to each pit is beneficial. Proper drainage is also essential, as waterlogging can damage plant roots. For kiwi, prior arrangement of a support system (trellis or bower system) and a balanced planting of male and female plants are essential. Persimmons and plums also require attention to proper spacing, sunlight availability, and plant protection in the early years.
For more information, farmers of Mashobra block can contact Jitendra Thakur (mobile 9817693000) and farmers of Basantpur block can contact Narwada (mobile 9418432338).