Local governments in the states of Uttarakhand and Gujurat are providing financial assistance for the creation of greenhouses and polyhouses, to boost production of flowers, fruit and vegetables.
In the hill state of Uttarakhand the local government has launched a project to have 20,000 modern polythene greenhouses, called ‘polyhouses’, built by 2014, reported Indian newspaper the Business Standard.
Under the scheme the Horticulture Technology Mission would subsidise 50 per cent of the construction cost, while loans from various banks would be available to fund the remainder.
The polyhouses will range in size from 100 – 300m2 and be used to grow high-value agricultural products, reported the newspaper.
To date the state government has received around 700 applications for subsidies from growers, said the newspaper. The government hopes to achieve a four-fold increase in production of cash crops through the project.
Meanwhile, in Gujarat the state government hopes to increase the number of greenhouses there from 150 to 1,000 in the coming three years.
The Business Standard reported that the state government has offered several incentives to encourage cultivators to develop more greenhouses.
“The role of protected cultivation in greenhouses is increasing globally. In Gujarat as well, we want to encourage cultivation in greenhouses, especially that of exotic flowers, fruits and vegetables. In the next three years, we hope to add another 850 greenhouses in Gujarat,” said Gujarat minister of agriculture Dileep Sanghani.
The Gujarat state government offers a 50 per cent subsidy on construction costs, which comes on top of a 25 per cent subsidy currently offered by the central government.
