The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The target of spices production has been fixed at 19.35 lakh tonnes from 4.85 lakh hectares of land in the 2008-09 fiscal surpassing the last year's target by .73 lakh tonnes, according to Agriculture Ministry sources.

Of the total quantity, the onion production target has been fixed at 9.60 lakh tonnes from 1.60 lakh hectares of lands, garlic at 3.90 lakh tonnes from 0.65 lakh hectares, chilly at 2.25 lakh tonnes from 1.25 lakh hectares.

Besides, ginger production target has been estimated at 1.88 lakh tonnes from 0.15 lakh hectares of lands, corundum at .44 lakh tonnes from 0.35 lakh hectares and dry turmeric at 0.90 lakh tonnes from 0.30 lakh hectares of land.

The chilly production has been projected at 2.63 lakh tonnes next year from 2.32 lakh tonnes last year.

The target of production of spices could not achieve last year due to two floods and devastating cyclone.

A high official of the Agriculture Ministry said, "our farmers will be able achieve the target next fiscal year if they get fertilisers and irrigation facilities on time."