Urbanization poses threats for horti expansion in AP’s coastal regions

Amaravati: All efforts are being made to expand horticulture growth in Andhra Pradesh’s coastal areas such as Padmanabham, Anandapuram, Bheemunipatnam, and Pendurthi mandals. The move is a part of the implementation of a central government scheme called the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture and the ‘Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.’ The aim of the scheme is to develop horticulture crops with 60% and 40% funding from central and state governments, respectively.

However, farmers of this region prefer to grow vegetables, fruits, and flowers instead of perennial crops like mango, cashew, coconut, and palm oil, informed by horticulture officer K. Satyanarayana. Perennial crop growth is ideal in the coastal climate but needs time, lobour, and patience to get returns. Besides this, the expansion of urbanization, especially nearby the city’s areas, discourages farmers from planting crops that need years to bear fruit.

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Currently, agricultural lands are being used for residence and other commercial purposes; the future of perennial trees remains uncertain in such areas. The government has been planning to encourage orchard farming by implementing several measures such as modern vegetable cultivation methods, expanding palm oil plantations, establishing orchards, digging water ponds, creating flower gardens, and developing storage and packing facilities.

The government is ready to provide subsidized farming equipment for the promotion of perennial crops. Several ideas, like the establishment of cold storage facilities and issuing Rythu Bazar cards, are in the pipeline so that farmers’ can fetch better income from their produce. Local farmer A. Narasiah shared his concerns, stating that urban development is “eating up agricultural lands,” making long-term investment in crops a risky choice.