Auraiya Farmers from Kanpur will witness prosperity as they can earn more profits by cultivating dragon fruit and strawberries. Under the Integrated Horticulture Development Mission Scheme, the government is promoting the cultivation of high-value crops such as dragon fruit and strawberries in the state. Targets have been set for boosting fruit and vegetable cultivation. Notably, the financial support to farmers is provided through subsidies.
As per instructions given by Horticulture Department, strawberries will be cultivated on 3 hectares and dragon fruit on another 3 hectares. Farmers who are applying for these crops will be eligible for subsidies such as Rs 60,000 per hectare for strawberries and Rs 1.6 lakh per hectare for dragon fruit. The amount will be deposited in their accounts via DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer). The government may increase the cultivation target based on farmer demand and applications.
Additionally, the horticulture department will encourage vegetable cultivation also Papaya will be grown on 6 hectares, kinnow and mausambi on 4 hectares, and dragon fruit on 2 hectares under the new garden plantation program. Vegetables such as cauliflower, tomato, capsicum, bottle gourd, and ridge gourd will be cultivated in 100 hectares. Not only this, but a subsidy of ₹24,000 per hectare will be provided for vegetables, ₹30,000 for papaya, and ₹50,000 for kinnow. Around 86 farmers have registered for the scheme so far, including three applicants for strawberry cultivation, one for dragon fruit, five for kinnow, eight for papaya, and 55 for vegetable farming. Interestingly, subsidy benefits will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.