GUIDELINES FOR THE “DISTRIBUTION OF HORTICULTURE INPUTS AT SUBSIDIZED COST TO THE HORTICULTURE GROWERS OF THE…

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La Gazette de L' État de Poudouchéry

The Gazette of Puducherry

PART - II

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®ı Amﬂºƒˆ ]∫Ô'˛wÁ\ 2023 } ∂¬º¶V✓Ï | 30 { No. 80 Poudouchéry Lundi 3 0 Octobre 2023

No. Puducherry Monday 30th October 2023

( 8 Kartika 1945 )

GOVERNMENT OF PUDUCHERRY

CHIEF SECRETARIAT (AGRICULTURE)

(G.O. Ms. No. 14/Ag., Puducherry, dated 19th October 2023)

NOTIFICATION

The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has been implementing the Scheme component "Distribution o f H o r t i c u l t u r e Inputs at subsidized cost to the farmers of Union territory of Puducherry for increasing production and productivity of Horticultural Crops" under the Scheme "Integrated Horticulture Development Programme through Diversification in Agriculture". In this regard, during January 2023, a Guidelines were issued vide G.O. Ms. No. 17/Ag., dated 06-01-2023 of the Chief Secretariat (Agriculture) for distribution of Horticulture Crop Seeds @ 50% subsidy to all category of farmers under the above Scheme.

[1631] 1632 LA GAZETTE DE L'ETAT [P ART–II

During the Budget Session 2023-24, the Hon'ble Minister for Agriculture has announced for inclusion of additional components under the above Scheme. Thus, the Department has proposed to supersede the G.O. Ms. No. 17/Ag., dated 06-01-2023, by issue of reviced Guidelines including the additional components as announced by the Hon'ble Minister for Agriculture. This has been considered.

2. Accordingly approval of the Hon'ble Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry is hereby accorded for the operational Guidelines appended with this Government Order in supersession of the G.O. Ms. No. 17/Ag., dated 06-01-2023 of the Chief Secretariat (Agriculture) for implementaion of the additional Scheme components announced in the Budget Session 2023-24 for "Distribution of Horticulture inputs at subsidized cost to the Horticulture growers of the Union territory of Puducherry' under the scheme of "Integrated Horiculture Development Programme through Diversification in Agriculture". It shall come into effect immediately.

3. This order is issued with the concurrence of the Finance Department vide its I.D. No. 30631/FC/FD/F5/A2/2023, dated 04-10-2023.

(By order)

SUNDARARAJAN. P., Deputy Secretary to Government (Agriculture).

———

GUIDELINES FOR THE "DISTRIBUTION OF HORTICULTURE

INPUTS AT SUBSIDIZED COST TO THE HORTICULTURE GROWERS OF

THE UNION TERRITORY OF PUDUCHERRY" FOR INCREASING

PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTIVITY OF HORTICULTURAL CROPS

I. Introduction.—Farmers adopt horticulture crop production even in small land holdings, as some of the horticulture crops are generally short duration crops, they are suitable for mixed, companion and intercropping. This results in high cropping intensity and higher income per unit area. It is pertinent that the private players are predominant in the production and distribution of various horticulture inputs and that the cost of inputs levied by them is higher. Hence, it becomes necessary to ensure the availability of quality horticulture inputs to the farmers at subsidized cost. Hence, to motivate farmers 1633

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and to increase the area and cropping intensity of horticultural crops, it is proposed to distribute horticulture inputs at subsidized rates to the farmers of the Union territory of Puducherry for the cultivation of horticultural crops under the Scheme "Integrated Horticulture Development Programme through Diversification in Agriculture".

II. Objectives.— The main objectives of this Scheme is;

Ÿ To promote the farmers to take up horticulture crop

cultivation thereby diversifying agriculture and increase the area under horticulture crops in Puducherry region.

Ÿ To provide critical horticulture inputs at subsidized cost to

all the horticulture farmers of Puducherry Union Territory.

Ÿ To retain the interest of farmers and farm women in

horticulture.

III. Pattern of Assistance.— (i) Distribution of horticulture

crop seeds @ 50% subsidy to all categories of farmers.

(ii) Distribution of vegetable/fruit seed minikits worth @ ` 250 per minikit at free of cost for the establishment of nutritional gardens in rural/urban areas.

(iii) Distribution of horticulture kit to urban and rural areas (Homestead/Backyards) containing vegetable seeds and seedlings, ready soil mixture, vermicompost, garden tools and implements, water saving appliances, bio-fertilizer, neem oil/cake, etc., @ 75% subsidy subject to a maximum of ` 3,000 per kit.

(iv) Tissue Culture Banana Seedlings produced at Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Puducherry, will be distributed @ 75 % subsidy to General Farmers and 90% subsidy to Scheduled Caste category farmers.

(v) The Coconut seedlings, fruit seedlings produced at Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Puducherry and Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Karaikal, PAJANCOA & RI, Karaikal, Government Horticulture Farm, Madagadipet, Puducherry, State Seed Farm, Karaikal, etc., will be distributed @ 75% subsidy to General Farmers and 90% Subsidy to Scheduled Caste category farmers.

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IV. Eligibility criteria of beneficiaries.— (1) The assistance is open to rural and urban beneficiaries of all categories who are having land holdings in Union territory of Puducherry.

(ii) In case of vegetable/fruit seed minikits and Horticulture kit @ 75% subsidy, the applicant shall have own house or rented house with open space either on roof top or backyard to undertake cultivation of horticulture crops.

(iii) The eligibility to avail the financial assistance and mode of operation of the applications shall be as laid down in the Guidelines notified for the implementation of AGRISTACK vide G.O.Ms.No. 10/Ag., dated 21-08-2023 of the Chief Secretariat (Agriculture), Puducherry.

V. Modalities of the Scheme.— (1) The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will make publicity through Mass Media and Uzhavar Udhaviyagam/Official website, etc., and create awareness among the farmers about the distribution of horticulture inputs viz., seeds, seedlings, vegetable/fruit minikit and roof top garden kit at subsidized cost. To avail the subsidy, the farmers in Union territory of Puducherry would be advised to submit the application with the required details either directly to the office of the Additional Director of Agriculture (Horticulture), Botanical Garden, Puducherry/ Additional Director of Agriculture, Karaikal. Deputy Director of Agriculture, Mahe/Yanam in respect to the region concerned or through their jurisdictional Uzhavar Udhaviyagam's of this Union Territory.

(2) The Office of the Additional Director of Agriculture (Horticulture), Additional Director of Agriculture, Karaikal. Deputy Director of Agriculture, Mahe/Yanam in respect to the region concerned will assess the area under horticulture crops proposed to be covered for each season viz., Thaipattam and/or Adipattam and accordingly workout the quantity of horticulture inputs required for distribution.

(3) Upon obtaining Administrative Approval from the Director of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Puducherry, for distribution of horticulture inputs at subsidized rate, the Office of the Additional Director of Agriculture (Horticulture), Botanical Garden, Puducherry/ Additional Director of Agriculture, Karaikal. Deputy Director of Agriculture, Mahe/Yanam in respect to the region concerned will place indent with Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Puducherry, Government Horticulture Farm, Madagadipet, State Seed Farm, 1635

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Karaikal, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Karaikal & PAJANCOA & RI, Karaikal for the respective inputs/seedlings based on the availability and readiness of supply as the case may be and request to stock the inputs as required by the indenting office.

(4) In case of non-availability/non-supply of inputs by the above-mentioned Institutions, Farms and Organizations, the procurement of quality seeds/seedlings shall be made from M/s. National Seeds Corporation Limited, Chennai or Indian Institute of Horticulture Research, (IIHR), Bangaluru or through Farmers Producer Organisations (FPO) in the Union territory of Puducherry or from any State/Central Government Institutions/Departments/Farms.

(5) The procurement of Horticulture inputs shall be from

authentic sources and in accordance with the GFR, 2017.

(6) After stocking of indented horticulture inputs at the respective Organization/Institutions/Farms, the distribution of horticulture crop inputs will be effected based on the permits issued to the farmers based on their eligibility and requirement.

(7) After the procurement and distribution of indented Horticulture crop inputs, necessary invoice to the extent of subsidy extended shall be raised in favour of the respective Indenting Office with 10% service charge (if any) for settlement which shall be upon obtaining necessary expenditure sanction from the Competent Authority.

VI. Monitoring/Evaluation.— The Scheme component will be monitored by the Office of the Additional Director of Agriculture (Horticulture)/Botanical Garden, Puducherry, Additional Director of Agriculture, Karaikal, Deputy Director of Agriculture Mahe/Yanam in respect of the region concerned periodically on the effectiveness of the Scheme and any modifications to the Scheme will be made with the approval of the Government.

VII. Interpretation/Doubts.— If, any doubt arises in the matter of implementation of the Scheme component, the decision of the Secretary to the Government (Agriculture) shall be the final and binding.