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State Horticulture Farms

State Horticulture Farms were established as early as in 1950 and latest by 2018. About 95% of planting materials required for distribution for the various schemes is produced in the State Horticulture Farms of the Department. Every year about 7 - 9 Crore Nos. of planting materials are produced and distributed to the farmers. The total extent of the Farms is about 2602.31 Ha. The farms hold orchard area and mother plant area of various crops. The Farms are located in 29 districts under the control of TANHODA.

The 29 districts are as follows:

There are 61 State Horticulture Farms and 19 parks and gardens under the control of Tamil Nadu Horticulture Development Agency (TANHODA). Pedigree and quality planting materials are being produced in these State Horticulture Farms for distribution to the farmers under various schemes implemented by the Horticulture Department and also for direct sales to the farmers. The State Horticulture Farms also serve as Model Demonstration Centers to the local growers. The Botanical Gardens and Parks serve as study centers for the students and botanists besides acts as an attraction to many tourists within India and around the world. Every year a business plan for implementing the farm activities is prepared. This plan is based on

· Demand of the local farmers

· Need of the district for various schemes

· Availability of mother plant area

· Availability of Infrastructure in the farm

· The production target for each farm is

· Fixed based on its capacity to produce the planting materials.

Each farm’s business plan comprises of the following components:

· Location map of the farm depicting the closer plant area and bulk plant area.

· General details – Location, Establishment, Extent, Soil type, Area details (Orchard area and nursery area) kind wise.

· Infrastructure available – Buildings, Irrigation sources Machineries and Equipments.

· Climatic factors – Rainfall, Temperature, etc.

· The business plan will also furnish activities proposed for new plantation and also gap filling activities. This will facilitate expansion of closer plant area for producing more numbers of planting materials. This will also help to increase the farm receipts in the future years.

Business plan will also have

Costing for each kind of planting material including input cost, wages cost and maintenance cost.

The sale price is fixed for each kind based on the costing for production with 25% margin.

Based on the business plan of each farm funds are provided on quarterly basis in two categories:

1. Payment of Wages

2. Payment towards input purchase, transport cost, Machinery purchase and maintenance.

3. Payment for infrastructures if any.

Kind wise production cost is arrived and kept as bench mark, based on which funds for production is disbursed. Based on the quantum of production proposed funds are calculated and released. Funds are transferred through State Bank of India to DDHs of the Districts / JDHs of the Districts, who have bank account in their place for operation of State Horticulture Farm funds.

Every month the Accounts Managers at Head Quarters (TANHODA) hold a meeting with the district Accounts Managers for reconciling the accounts of the preceding month. Reconciliation for both Wages and Other charges is done farm wise.

The Assistant Director of Horticulture (Planting Material) and The Deputy Director of Horticulture / The Joint Director of Horticulture, at the District Office take up periodical visit to the farms to review and guide the Farm Managers.

At Head Quarter (TANHODA), every month the Assistant Director of Horticulture of concerned block and Farm Managers are reviewed on their activities. Further supply orders for the planting materials produced are given.

Besides the above the head quarters officers also visit various farms to review and monitor the farm function. In view to bring about expansion of area under vegetable crops, it is proposed to distribute more quantity of vegetable seeds to the farmers through the existing departmental schemes.

The detail of the State Horticulture Farms is given below:

List of State Horticulture Farms

SHF: State Horticultural Farm

FPU – Fruit Preservation Unit