Samvad Sutra, Banka. With the aim of increasing the income of farmers in the district, the government is encouraging the cultivation of horticultural crops and vegetables. Under this, the Horticulture Department is providing seeds to the farmers of the district at cheap rates.
Under the Vegetable Development Scheme of the State Government, farmers are being given seeds for the cultivation of pumpkin, Nenua, bitter gourd, lady's finger and chilli at 75 percent subsidy. A target has been set to cultivate all these vegetables in 30-30 hectares in the district. In this way, vegetable cultivation will be done on a total of 150 hectares of land.
Watermelon seeds will be given to farmers at cheap rates for 90 hectares.
To get seeds at subsidized rate, farmers will have to apply online on the portal of Horticulture Directorate. After completion of the application process, it will be scrutinized by the concerned Block Horticulture Officer. After investigation, seeds will be made available to eligible farmers.
This year a target has been set to cultivate pumpkin, nenua, bitter gourd, lady's finger and chilli in 150 hectares in the district.
Apart from this, watermelon and melon seeds will also be given to farmers at subsidized rates this year. Last year, saplings were given to the farmers. Seeds will be given this year. For this, seeds have been made available to the horticulture office. The area on the banks of Chandan River is considered suitable for the cultivation of watermelon and melon. It is cultivated extensively in many villages including Singhnan and Rampur of Rajon block. Farmers also cultivate watermelon and melon in some areas of Amarpur block.
However, due to lack of proper market facilities, the area under cultivation of these crops had decreased in recent years. Now the government is once again emphasizing on increasing the area of watermelon and melon cultivation by providing seeds at subsidized rates.