The National Horticulture Board (NHB) has selected Anantapur, Kurnool and Kadapa districts in the State for the implementation of a pilot project of the Cluster Development Programme (CDP). It is one of the 53 horticulture crop clusters in the country with a specific crop in each cluster.
The NHB has approved an additional layout of funds for the total project cost of ₹269.95 crore suggested by Andhra Pradesh. Of this, pre-production and production would get ₹116.50 crore, post-harvest management and Value Addition ₹74.75 crore, and logistics, marketing and branding will get ₹78.70 crore.
As the first instalment, the NHB would provide ₹100 crore funding as its share of 40% and 60% would be invested by the private implementing agencies.
Initially, the programme would be rolled out in 12 clusters in 11 States. In Andhra Pradesh, the banana crop cluster has been selected for the pilot launch, said Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Additional Secretary Abhilaksh Likhi.
Commissioner of Horticulture S.S. Sreedhar too accompanied him on a field visit to Karnapudiki village in the Anantapur district and interacted with farmers on Friday, said a release from the Department of Horticulture here.
The Cluster Development Programme (CDP) will leverage the geographic specialisation of horticulture clusters for promoting integrated and market-led development of pre-production, production, post-harvest, logistics, branding and marketing activities and for holistic growth and development of horticulture clusters for making them globally competitive, said Mr. Likhi. The project was expected to promote the export of more than 75,000 MTs of bananas every year from Anantapur Cluster through this Cluster Development Programme.
The NHB is also trying to rope in corporate companies to collaborate with the local farmers to enhance the productivity, quality of produce, post-harvest treatment, packing, providing market linkage and ensuring higher prices with a regular increase in income. The project is extending support in making quality plant material available for fruit-care activities, post-harvest infrastructure facilities like mobile pack houses, integrated pack houses and also taking the responsibility for the issue of phytosanitary certificates.
While there are 46,967 hectares (Kurnool 4670 ha, Kadapa 26449 ha and Anantapur 15,848 ha) under banana cultivation in three districts, the project would focus on 17,000 hectares, said Anantapur Assistant Director Horticulture G. Satish.
