CULTIVATION AREA
Around 5,000 square metres on the hill slopes of Netravali village
TECHNICAL KNOW-HOW
From Mahabaleshwar-based experts
YIELD EXPECTED
32,000 kilograms of strawberries
EXPECTED REVENUE
Rs 60 lakh for the cultivators
Local farmers have been imparted training by experts from Mahabaleshwar and will be provided with irrigation facilities, besides plants and pesticidesMARGAO: The very mention of strawberries takes one to the picturesque hill station Mahabaleshwar, which is known for strawberry farms and is considered as major producer of strawberries in the country.
Come October, and a small beginning will be made in the hilly regions of Netravali village in remote Sanguem in strawberry cultivation, thanks to the initiative by the Atal Gram Development Agency, which was set up with the objective of making the remote village a model village “ a brainchild of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
An area admeasuring around 5,000 square metres on the hill slopes of Netravali village is proposed to be brought under strawberry cultivation for the first time with technical know-how from Mahabaleshwar-based experts.
Under the ambitious programme, around 60 households of the Scheduled Tribes, comprising of 8-10 per cent of Netravali’s total population, will be engaged in the strawberry cultivation in October. Project Officer and Atal Gram Development Agency member Secretary, Vijay B Saxena informed that the farmers expect a yield of 32,000 kilograms of strawberries, bringing revenue of Rs 60 lakh for the cultivators.
Says Saxena: “Strawberries grow in cool temperatures. There are two wards in Netravali where the temperatures drop to below 30 degrees and offers scope for strawberry cultivation. The high altitude in the two wards will boost strawberry production."
Agency Chairman Subhash Velip said the local farmers have been imparted training by experts from Mahabaleshwar and will be provided with irrigation facilities, besides plants and pesticides.
Apart from strawberry cultivation, the agency is also exploring the possibility of marketing the jackfruit from Netravali to the outside world. “Each of the 200 farmers in Netravali own around 100-150 jackfruit trees. We intend to market the jackfruit to the outside world and bring prosperity to the local farmers," Velip said.
Saxena on the other hand pointed out that the agency is studying a proposal to introduce high yielding chilly crop on the slopes of Netravali village.
Netravali village was shortlisted by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar around five years ago with an avowed objective to make it a model village. Saxena said the initial concept failed to take off successfully before the Chief Minister constituted the Atal Gram Development Agency to coordinate between various government departments to up the upliftment of the village. “Development is a continuous process. Our target now is to take up beautification of the village market area with eco-toilets and upgrade the Anganwadi schools in the village. We are also motivating the farmers to go for cashew plantation in a big way," Saxena said.
A hamlet with a population of 4,000 people, mostly Scheduled Tribes, Netravali plays host to around 750 households.
