It is estimated that a storage tank of 200 cu. metre capacity (eg. 16m x 5 m x 2.5m lined with Silpauline) can store about two lakh litres of rain water, which is sufficient to provide 10 – 12 rounds of irrigation in a cardamom plantation of 0.8 ha. The cost of such a device is estimated to be around Rs. 20,000/- (Rs. 15,000/- for excavation work and Rs. 5,000/- for polythene sheets). Similarly, a 100 cu. metre water storage tank can store one lakh litres of water, which may cost around Rs. 10,000/-. (Rs. 7,500/- for excavation work and Rs. 2,500/- for silpauline sheet). Subsidy @ 33.33% of the actual cost, limited to Rs. 6,666/- is allowed for the construction of one 200 cu. metre capacity tank. A farmer is eligible to construct storage tank of his actual requirement / convenience, but the subsidy will be limited to 33.33% of the total expenditure subject to the monetary ceiling indicated above. Spices Board may arrange for bulk supply of silpauline of given specification. In such cases, the cost of silpauline in excess of the approved rate will not be accepted.
Eligibility
Registered small and marginal growers of Cardamom and growers of Vanilla holding not more than 4 ha. and not less than 0.10 ha. under Cardamom or Vanilla as the case may be are eligible to avail the benefits under the scheme. The amount of subsidy is limited to 33.33% of the actual cost of setting up of the tank (excavation of the tank and lining with Silapauline), subject to a maximum of Rs. 6,666/- per applicant. Silpauline of approved specification shall have to be used. ( 120 gauge)
Area of operation
Kerala, Tamilnadu and Karnataka States
Procedure for implementation of the scheme will be as follows:-
1. Interested growers will submit application in the prescribed
format.
2. The Field Officer of the Board will assess the technical / economical
feasibility and issue the work permit under intimation to the Assistant
Director concerned.
3. On completion of the water storage tank (excavation and lining with
Silpauline sheets), the farmer will intimate the same to the Field Officer.
4. The Field Officer will physically verify the construction work, take
its measurements and recommend eligible subsidy to the Assistant Director
concerned.
5. The Assistant Director will effect the payment.
6. 25% of the cases will be test checked by the Assistant Director and
5% by the Regional Deputy Director / Joint Director and 5% by an Officer
nominated by the Director(Dev), Head Office.
This programme supports growers to raise cardamom nurseries in their own fields. On an average 16-20 lakh planting material both seedlings and suckers together, are raised annually through this programme.
Spices Board provides grant-in-aid @ Rs.5000/- per bed nursery producing 10,000 seedlings, Rs.7500/- for poly bag nursery producing 10,000 seedlings and Rs.10,000/- for nursery producing 10,000 suckers.
This programme is intended to encourage small and marginal growers to take up replantation of old, senile and uneconomic plantations. A subsidy of Rs.9,000/- per ha. is offered to small and marginal growers. About 650 ha is brought under replanting every year.