Centre approves Indo-Israel project in Palnadu to benefit chilli, vegetable farmers

Vijayawada: The Union government has issued an order announcing its nod for the Indo-Israel project in Nekarikallu mandal, Gundlapalli in Palnadu. This is as per an agreement between India and Israel to provide the latest farming methods and related technologies to farmers.

YSRC MP Lavu Srikrishna Devarayalu said the project will be implemented on 25.57 acres in Gundlapalli at a cost of Rs 10.61 crore. The project is named as Centre of Excellence for Vegetables & Spices under the Indo-Israel project. The project would give a boost to the cultivation of tomato, cherry tomato, cucumber, brinjal, capsicum, chilli and other vegetables.

The state directorate of horticulture is the implementing agency. Agriculture counsellor to MASHAV, Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation, under the Embassy of Israel, has approved the DPR for the Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence for Vegetables and Spices Project at Gundlapalli village, Palnadu district, under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).

The infrastructure proposed to be created are a greenhouse with fan and pad system for nursery raising, a tunnel, a forced-ventilated greenhouse, a natural-ventilated greenhouse, an insect-proof net house, a 3-MT pre-cooling chamber and a pack house.

Devarayalu said the modern methods and policies related to the cultivation of chilli and vegetables will be introduced to the farmers. “Palnadu is a water-scarcity region. Hence farmers will benefit from modern methods of cultivation with less water, they would be told how to get higher yields with less chemicals and acquainted with technologies to make new vegetables and effect agricultural improvements,” he said.

Further, labs and equipment under this project would be provided to farmers. This would be a big boon to agriculture in the Palnadu region. Guntur chillies are world-famous. With the adoption of modern Israeli methods, the Guntur chilli and vegetables would become more tasty, better- quality and more nourishing.”

The MP said the central government has issued orders to create awareness among farmers about the cultivation methods vis-à-vis chilli, tomato, cherry tomato, cucumber, brinjal, capsicum and other vegetables.

“For the Centre of Excellence under this project, big fans for growing nurseries, a greenhouse with pad system, high tunnels, ventilated greenhouses, free cooling chambers and naturally ventilated greenhouses will be erected,” he said.

Devarayalu said farmers would get better profits as chemicals are used only in less quantities.