Government of India-Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (GOI-MIDH) scheme on ‘Seed & planting material production and distribution and transfer of technology in spices’ is being operated in the Department of Spices and Plantation Crops, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam, TNAU as lead centre with a budget outlay of Rs. 78.51 lakhs for the year 2019-20 and Rs. 88.87 lakhs during 2020-21 funded by the Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development (DASD), Calicut, Kerala.
In this scheme, a total of 16 sub centres of various research stations and colleges of TNAU viz., Periyakulam, Coimbatore, Bhavanisagar, Ooty, Yercaud, Palur, Trichy, Kodaikanal, Thadiyankudisai, Aruppukottai, Kovipatty, Killikulum, Thovalai, Pechiparai are involved in the following developmental activities of spices and aromatic crops, Production of quality planting materials of spice crops viz., black pepper, ginger, garlic, turmeric, chilli, seed spices (coriander), nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, allspice, tamarind and curry leaf and aromatic plants are being taken up in 16 centres of TNAU.
Front Line Demonstration (FLD) on organic farming is being conducted in spice crops viz., turmeric, black pepper, coriander and chilli at Agricultural Research Station, Bhavanisagar, Horticultural Research Station, Yercaud and Thadiyankudisai, Department of Spices and Plantation Crops, Periyakulam, Regional Research Station, Aruppukottai and Agricultural Research Station, Kovilpatty.
Upgradation of spice nursery was successfully completed in HRS, Yercaud, Thadiyankudisai and Pechiparai and these three spice nurseries are also accredited by DASD, Calicut. Farmers training and State level seminar on spice crops were also conducted in various sub centres for popularization and expansion of areas under Spice crops.
An Annual Review Meeting of GOI-MIDH was conducted on 25th and 26th June, 2021 through online mode. In this meeting, among 45 centres participated from All India level, TNAU has bagged the “Appreciation award” for successfully completing the assigned programme of GOI-MIDH.
