Horticulture

Head of office designation	:	Deputy Director of Horticulture
Address	:	Thoothukudi District Collectorate Compound Korampallam.
Phone No	:	0461 – 2340681
Fax No	:	0461 – 2340681

LOCATION:

It is situated in the extreme south-eastern corner of Tamil Nadu state and bounded on the north by the districts of Tirunelveli, Virudhunagar and Ramanathapuram, on the east and south-east by Gulf of Mannar and on the west and south-west by the district of Tirunelveli. Total area of this district is 4621 sq. kms. and the administrative headquarters is an Urban agglomeration and also one of the taluk headquarters within the district.

CLIMATE :

Thoothukudi enjoys salubrious climate. Its maximum temperature is 35.6°C and the minimum is 24.5°C. The climate is conducive for agricultural and horticultural crops.

AGROCLIMATIC ZONE :

Based on the rainfall distribution, irrigation pattern, soil characteristics, cropping pattern and physical, ecological and social characteristics, 100% of the district falls under Southern Zone.

PHYSICAL FEATURE:

The total geographical area of the district is 470723 Ha. The details of taluks, blocks, village panchayats and town panchayats are illustrated below:

i) Taluks	8 - Thoothukudi, Tiruchendur, Kovilpatti, Ottapidaram, Vilathikulam, Ettayapuram, Sathankulam, Srivaikundam
ii) Blocks	12 - Thoothukudi, Ottapidaram, Srivaikundam, Karnkulam , Tiruchendur, Udankudi, Sathankulam, Alwarthirunagari , Kovilpatti, Kayathar, Vilathikulam and Pudur
iii) Revenue Villages	480
iv) Village Panchayats	408
v) Town Panchayats	19 - Korampallamaru, Salikulamaru, Uppathurar, Uppodai, Vaippar, Vembar, Karumeniyar and Tamirabarani River passes through the Thoothukudi District.

LAND CLASSIFICATION IN HECTARES

Sl No.	Classification	2010-11
1	Forest	3890.060
2	Uncultivable lands	19878.135
3	Land put into other than Agriculture purpose	76476.725
4	Cultivable waste	48014.980
5	Grass and pasture land	5132.00
6	Trees, not included in the nett area sown	38324.775
7	Current fallow land	10363.085
8	Other fallow land	83438.800
9	Nett area sown	178083.060
Total Land area		463601.620

RAIN FALL:

Thoothukudi comes under Low rainfall region. The normal rainfall of the district is 662 mm. North east monsoon being 65% winter being 9% and summer being 17% South west monsoon 9% of total rainfall.

HORTICULTURAL SCENERIO IN THOOTHUKUDI DISTRICT

Thoothukudi district is blessed with favourable climate for growing all kinds of horticultural crops except hills crops.

Horticultural Crops grown in Thoothukudi district is given below:

Total cultivation area : 178083.060 Ha.

Horticultural crops cultivation area : 41609 Hec.

Percentage of Horticulture crops cultivation : 23.36 %

Sl. No	PARTICULARS	AREA IN HEC	PRODUCTION IN MT.
1.	Fruits	11680	525600
2.	Vegetables	4243	10675
3.	Spices and Condiment	20461	75092
4.	Plantation Crops	3994	12501
6.	Flowers	367	2818
7.	Medicinal & Aromatic plants	864	864
Total		41609	627550

SCHEME DETAILS

1) Integrated Horticulture Development Scheme (IHDS):-

It is state government scheme. Under the scheme distribution of vegetable seeds, planting

material of fruit plants to all category farmers @ 50% subsidized cost.

1. For vegetable cultivation the area will be limited to 0.5 Ha per beneficiary.

2. For fruit crop cultivation the area will be limited to 1.00 Ha per beneficiary.

Sl No	Year	Physical (Ha)		Financial (in Lakhs)		Number of Beneficiary
Sl No	Year	Target	Achvt	Target	Achvt	Number of Beneficiary
1	2008 – 2009	1103	1144	14.07	14.07	2.137
2	2009 – 2010	1400	1404	20.00	20.00	1753
3	2010 – 2011	1643	1126	19.72	19.72	2148

2) Micro Irrigation (MI):-

It is a centrally sponsored scheme subsidy provided by central and state Government 50% 25% for small and marginal farmers 40% and 25% respectively for other farmers. This scheme is also implemented by all line Department under the chairmanship District Collector. This year it is programmed to cover 600 Ha of cultivated crop under Micro Irrigation System.

Sl No	Year	Physical (Ha)		Financial (in Lakhs)		Number of Beneficiary
Sl No	Year	Target	Achvt	Target	Achvt	Number of Beneficiary
1	2008 – 2009	400	364	40.00	38.367	298
2	2009 – 2010	400	384	92.00	92.396	302
3	2010 – 2011	505	300	70.00	71.215	200

3) National Agricultural Development Programme. (NADP):-

To maximize the return to the farmers by reducing yield gap in important Horticulture crop by utilizing Micro irrigation with fertigation. Cluster approach is adopted for operational convenience and better logistic. This scheme has been implemented from 2007-08 by introducing latest technology like fertigation through Micro Irrigation, cultivation of Hybrid varieties of Vegetable, Banana etc., The farmers can get more yield with good quality and uniform maturity through this scheme.

Sl No	Year	Physical (Ha)		Financial (in Lakhs)		Number of Beneficiary
Sl No	Year	Target	Achvt	Target	Achvt	Number of Beneficiary
1	2008 – 2009	100	100	43.70	43.70	104
2	2009 – 2010	100	100	43.70	43.70	110
3	2010 – 2011	160	75	33.60	21.486	80

4) Irrigated Agriculture Modernization and Water Resource Management (IAMWARM):-

The fund released by world bank through state government in Thoothukudi district .Senkottaiyar Korampallamaru, Salikulamaru, Uppathurar, Vaipar, Vembar, Uppodai and Karumeniar sub basins were covered under the Horticulture crops like TC Banana, Hybrid Vegetables seeds (Tomato, Bhendi and Brinjal). Seeds and plant protection chemical were distributed at 50% subsidy in previous 3 years and completed in Sunkotaiyar sub basin (IInd phase 1st, 2nd and 3rd year) . In other sub basin this scheme is implemented from 2010-11 onwards covering TC Banana and Hybrid Vegetables. During 2011-12 it is proposed to implement in 247 Ha with an outlay of Rs.43.646Lakhs.

Sl No	Year	Physical (Ha)		Financial (in Lakhs)		Number of Beneficiary
Sl No	Year	Target	Achvt	Target	Achvt	Number of Beneficiary
1	2008 – 2009	15	15	1.707	1.707	33
2	2009 – 2010	18	18	2.025	2.02	30
3	2010 – 2011	236	236	37.49	37.315	405

5) National Mission on Medicinal Plants (NMMP):-

This is the scheme by National Medicinal Plants Board implemented through Horticulture Department at district level under the chairmanship of District Collector, the 20% subsidy @ Rs.5,000 distributed to farmers growing senna crops.

Sl No	Year	Physical (Ha)		Financial (in Lakhs)		Number of Beneficiary
Sl No	Year	Target	Achvt	Target	Achvt	Number of Beneficiary
1	2008 – 2009	155	155	7.75	7.75	147
2	2009 – 2010	160	160	8.00	8.00	87
3	2010 – 2011	300	300	15.00	15.00	226

6) Hi-Tech Productivity Enhancement Programme :-

The Scheme is introduced in Thoothukudi District during the year 2009-2010 onwards. Under the scheme Planting materials like Mango Grafts, Sapota Grafts, Curry Leaf, Cashew nut grafts, Amla grafts, Tamarind grafts, Guva layers and other plant production chemicals @ Rs. 7500/- per ha. were distributed to farmers.

Sl No	Year	Physical (Ha)		Financial (in Lakhs)		Number of Beneficiary
Sl No	Year	Target	Achvt	Target	Achvt	Number of Beneficiary
1	2008 – 2009	--	--	--	--	--
2	2009 – 2010	1582	1582	118.65	118.65	720
3	2010 – 2011	500	229	122.50	17.175	176

7) National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS):-

To provide insurance coverage and financial support to the farmers in the case of failure of crop caused be natural calamities, pest and disease attack etc. In selected firka in Thoothukudi district the farmers who are cultivating crops like Chillies and banana will remit 55% subsidy for small and marginal farmers and 50% subsidy of premium cost for other farmers, Subsidy premium allowed by state/central government.

Sl No	Year	Physical (Ha)		Financial (in Lakhs)		Number of Beneficiary
Sl No	Year	Target	Achvt	Target	Achvt	Number of Beneficiary
1	2008 – 2009	--	--	--	--	--
2	2009 – 2010	1110	530	7123	3.41	286
3	2010 – 2011	950	2691	37.50	20.42	1786