Horticulture in Coimbatore: A Green Revolution

I’m excited to share some insights about horticulture in Coimbatore. It’s a fascinating and important field that’s contributing significantly to the region’s economy and well-being.

So, let’s dive into this discussion, as if we were having a friendly conversation!

Horticulture in Coimbatore – Nurturing Green Prosperity

Coimbatore District, with its favorable agro-climatic conditions, has become a hotspot for horticulture.

The area’s unique climate and easy access to resources have made it a hub for horticultural crop production, which significantly contributes to the state’s horticultural output.

With increasing production of fruits and vegetables, Coimbatore is well poised to enhance its economic contribution through exports.

The shift towards horticulture-based farming is apparent because it offers higher returns per unit of land compared to traditional agriculture.

Access to knowledge from universities, departments, and institutions, along with robust market opportunities, encourages local farmers to diversify into horticulture.

Why Horticulture Matters

Horticulture is climate-resilient, ensuring a stable income for farmers. It has gained prominence due to changing socioeconomic profiles, a rising middle class, and increasing per capita income. People are becoming more health-conscious, altering their food habits, and prioritizing fruits and vegetables in their diet.

Coimbatore’s horticulture landscape covers an average of 1,25,000 hectares. The district excels in cultivating various crops, with significant acreage dedicated to coconut, tea, arecanut, banana, mango, tomato, small onion, curry leaves, gourds, brinjal, and bhendi. Here’s a brief overview of Coimbatore’s major contributions to Tamil Nadu’s horticulture:

1. Banana – Coimbatore ranks 3rd with 8,142 hectares.
2. Grapes – Also 3rd with 77 hectares.
3. Tea – 2nd place with 11,191 hectares.
4. Arecanut – 2nd place with 1,813 hectares.

Coimbatore’s annual average horticultural crop production stands at an impressive 11.36 lakhs metric tons, spread over 1.25 lakh hectares.

Department of Horticulture and Plantation Crops

The Department of Horticulture and Plantation Crops in Coimbatore plays a pivotal role in enhancing farmer income and ensuring nutritional security. Their mission encompasses various aspects:

1. Expanding the area, production, and productivity of horticultural crops through innovative technologies.
2. Providing nutritional security through horticultural crops.
3. Encouraging people of all ages to adopt a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
4. Empowering women through skills and employment opportunities.
5. Motivating the youth to become horticulture entrepreneurs.
6. Ensuring inclusiveness of marginalized sections like differently-abled individuals and transgenders in horticultural activities.
7. Working towards a sustainable ecosystem through home gardens, landscaping, parks, gardens, and environmental sustainability initiatives.

Government Schemes for Horticulture

The government has implemented various schemes to support horticulture in Coimbatore:

1. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture- National Horticulture Mission (MIDH-NHM): This program encourages the expansion of horticultural areas and promotes activities like crop incentive programs, organic farming, and integrated nutrient management.
2. National Agriculture Development Programme (NADP): It focuses on developing onion, promoting organic cultivation, and establishing permanent pandal systems for horticultural development.
3. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): PMKSY emphasizes efficient irrigation water use, encouraging farmers to adopt micro-irrigation facilities.
4. Supplementary Water Management Activities (SWMA): This scheme supports the creation of ground-level water storage structures, borewells, and the installation of electric motors or diesel pump sets.
5. Rainfed Area Development Program (RADP) – Integrated Farming System (IFS): RADP aims to promote integrated farming systems, including horticulture-based farming systems, which receive subsidies for various components like milch cows, goats/sheep, and vermicompost units.
6. Integrated Horticulture Development Scheme (IHDS): IHDS promotes the cultivation of traditional cultivars and minor fruits through subsidies.
7. Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization Project (TNIAMP): This project focuses on crop diversification to high remunerative, less water-requiring horticultural crops through hi-tech cultivation technologies.
8. Collective Farming: This innovative program organizes small and marginal farmers into Farmer Producer Groups and Federations to promote collective farming and better adoption of technology.
9. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): Coimbatore district covers crops like banana, small onion, turmeric, tomato, brinjal, and tapioca under this insurance scheme.

How to Avail Schemes

Farmers can access these schemes through various methods:

1. Uzhavan App: Farmers can use the Uzhavan App to upload necessary documents and enroll in various schemes.
2. Web Portals: The official department website offers web portals for scheme enrollment.
3. Direct Contact: Farmers can also visit the Assistant Director of Horticulture in their respective block for scheme enrollment.

To be eligible for these schemes, you need to own agricultural land or lease it for a minimum of ten years, have access to assured irrigation facilities, and provide all necessary documents.

State Horticulture Farms (SHFs)

Coimbatore operates two State Horticulture Farms, each serving a specific purpose:

1. State Horticulture Farm – Kannampalayam: This farm produces pro-tray seedlings of various crops like tomato, brinjal, chillies, moringa, and papaya, which are distributed to farmers through different schemes. Additionally, the farm produces organic inputs like vermicompost and bio-control agents for local distribution.
2. State Horticulture Farm – Anaikatty: Similar to the Kannampalayam farm, this one produces pro-tray seedlings and organic inputs. It also engages in the production of ornamental plants like crotons, curry leaves, duranta, hibiscus, and roses. Both farms offer educational farm tourism experiences and promote the gifting of tree saplings on special occasions.

TANHODA Outlet

The Tamil Nadu Horticultural Development Agency (TANHODA) operates outlets across the district. They sell a range of products, including potager garden kits, vegetable seeds, spice boxes, dry fruit boxes, and traditional foods. These outlets provide a platform for farmers, FPOs (Farmer Producer Organizations), and FPU (Farmer Producer Units) to sell their products directly to the public, reducing the need for intermediaries.

In addition to these products, fruits and vegetables procured from local farmers are also sold at nominal prices to the public.

Contact Information

If you need to get in touch with the Department of Horticulture and Plantation Crops in Coimbatore or local officers, here are the contact details:

• Deputy Director of Horticulture: Mrs. Bhuvaneswari. M. – Contact: 0422 – 2453578, 9443366250
• Assistant Director of Horticulture (Planting Material): Mrs. Gomathi – Contact: 0422 – 2455799, 9962211192

For block-level officers, reach out to the relevant Assistant Director of Horticulture as per your area. Contact details are provided for each block.

For State Horticulture Farms and TANHODA outlets, please refer to the contact information included in the provided list.

Horticulture in Coimbatore is not just a means of income for local farmers; it’s a way of life, promoting sustainability, health, and community development.

So, whether you’re a farmer or someone interested in supporting the local horticulture scene, Coimbatore’s horticultural journey is one to watch and participate in.