Bihar Govt Offers Upto 50% Subsidies for Lucrative Jackfruit (Kathal) Farming: Process Details

As the month of Sawan brings rain to many states, farmers are being presented with an opportunity to engage in profitable jackfruit farming. With the added advantage of up to 50 percent government subsidies, cultivating jackfruit has the potential to yield substantial profits.

Continue Reading:-

Benefits of Jackfruit Farming:

Jackfruit is rich in essential nutrients such as iron, calcium, vitamins A and C, and potassium. The fruit can be used to prepare nutritious vegetable dishes and enjoys high demand in the market, ensuring a good price for farmers. Jackfruit cultivation is popular in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and South India, and is now being cultivated throughout the country. Known as both a fruit and a vegetable, the jackfruit tree bears fruit twice a year, offering farmers a significant opportunity to generate income.

Subsidy for Jackfruit Cultivation:

The Bihar government is implementing the Prime Minister Agricultural Irrigation Scheme (Micro-irrigation) based dry horticulture scheme to support jackfruit cultivation. Under this scheme, farmers in Bihar can avail themselves of a subsidy of up to 50 percent for jackfruit cultivation. The subsidy amounts to Rs. 30,000 per hectare, covering 50 percent of the total cost of Rs. 60,000 per hectare for fruit crops. The subsidy will be distributed over three years in the ratio of 60:20:20, amounting to Rs. 18,000, Rs. 6,000, and Rs. 6,000, respectively. This scheme is applicable in all 38 districts of Bihar.

Also Read: State Govt Offers Subsidies for Power Tillers and Weeding Machines to Farmers- Apply Now

Requirements and Application Process:

To take advantage of the subsidy, farmers need to set up a Drip Irrigation System on their fields and plant jackfruit saplings on the ridges. This scheme aims to promote fruit-planting in areas with limited rainfall through micro-irrigation techniques. Farmers can apply for fruit plants according to their preference, with a minimum application area of 0.1 hectare and a maximum of 4 hectares.

Pre-Requisites for Application:

Before applying for the subsidy, certain prerequisites must be met. The plot designated for the Dry Gardening Plan should not have an existing Drip Irrigation System or any previous plantation work. If saplings have already been planted, only the area proportional to the saplings will be considered valid. Farmers can also benefit from community tubewells by applying for the Community Tube Well Scheme through the designated dashboard. Fruit plants will be provided to farmers by the Center of Excellence for Fruit, Desiree, Vaishali, while applications for vegetable plants can be made through the Integrated Garden Development Scheme dashboard.

Also Read: Indian Govt Pushes for Farmers to Become 'Urjadata' by Adopting Energy Producing Crops for Ethanol Production

Yield and Potential Earnings:

One hectare of jackfruit cultivation can accommodate approximately 100 plants, with a recommended planting distance of 10X10. Each tree can yield up to 30 jackfruits, weighing around 20 kg each. This translates to a total production of 600 kg per tree. With 100 plants, farmers can expect a total production of 60,000 kg. Considering a conservative selling price of Rs. 30 per kilogram, the total production of 60,000 kg would amount to Rs. 18,00,000. Even after accounting for a production cost of Rs. 1,00,000, farmers can still earn a substantial profit of Rs. 17,00,000.

Application Process:

Farmers in Bihar can apply online for the jackfruit cultivation subsidy by providing necessary documents such as Aadhaar card, land papers, Aadhaar-linked mobile number, and a copy of the farmer's bank account passbook. The application can be submitted through the official website of the scheme (http://horticulture.bihar.gov.in/HORTMIS/Home.aspx).

Also Read: HP Govt Embraces Drone Technology for Agriculture, says State Minister Chander Kumar