Department of Horticulture, Telangana state has already established one Center of Excellence for vegetables and flowers at Jeedimetla,  Medchal – Malkajgiri district and is running successfully.

Keeping the success of the Center of Excellence for vegetables & flowers at Jeedimetla centre in view, the Department of Horticulture, Telangana state has proposed for establishment of another “Centre of Excellence” in the state for fruit crops and now it is functioning.

Govt. of Telangana has allotted an area of 53.25 acres adjacent to the Horticulture University at Mulugu, Siddipet district (erstwhile Medak District) for establishment of Centre of Excellence (Fruits) along with establishment of seedling production unit i.e. “Establishment of state-of-the-art plug type vegetable nursery unit” with state funds.

The project COE (Fruits) is focused on:

Technology Demonstration proposed at COE (fruits)

• Naturally Ventilated Net house

• Demonstration and interventions of technology

• Different spacings

• Ridge  plantation system

• Plastic Mulching

• Micro Irrigation Fertigation - online drip with micro tubes having discharge 8 lph including automation

• Good agricultural practices(GAP)

• Organic farming

• Farm mechanization

• Post harvest management

Details of area demarcation at the site COE (friuts), Mulugu

Quality of Water:

Nature of Soil :

Works so far completed at COE (fruits), Mulugu

·         Total eight nos (8) of Bore wells were dug. Average water yield of all bore wells is 1.5 inch.

·         Four form ponds were excavated. Size and capacity are as follows.

·         Fruit crop plantations were done in an area of 26.16 acres duly procuring plant material from various prestigious institutes of India. Details are as follows. All the major fruit crop plantations (i.e. Mango, Guava, Citrus) were done on Ultra High Density model.

Sources of plant material for COE (Fruits), Mulugu

·         In addition to the above, Coconut, Jack fruit, Casuarina, Bamboo and Teak plants were planted along the roads.

·         Total fruits crops plantation was facilitated with micro irrigation.

·         Shade-net Semi Covered Pandals (4 units each unit @ 2000 Sq.m ) were also established at COE, Mulugu for demonstration purpose.

Action plan for 2019-20:

• Production of 50,000 good quality mango grafts and 25000 Guava grafts.

• On farm trainings to the farmers / Department staff / Staff of other institutions like SERP.

• “Establishment of state-of-the-art plug type vegetable nursery unit” at same site is in completion stage and expected to start its operation in the coming Monsoon season.

Expected Out Comes by Establishing Centre of Excellence for Fruits.

1. Awareness will be created among farmers through regular training cum demonstration of new technologies

2. Availability of quality plant materials to the farmers in the region, disease free grafts / plant material will be supplied as per the demand.

3. Extension functionaries will be trained adequately to disseminate the technologies adopted or developed.

4. Income will be generated through sale of plant material 

Technology Demonstration proposed at COE (fruits)

1. Naturally Ventilated Net house

2. Demonstration and interventions of technology

3. Different spacings

4. Ridge  plantation system

5. Plastic Mulching

6. Micro Irrigation Fertigation - online drip with micro tubes having discharge 8 lph including automation

7. Good agricultural practices(GAP)

8. Organic farming

9. Farm mechanization

10. Post harvest management

Establishment of Plug Type Nursery Unit at COE, Mulugu.

Advantages of Plug Type Nurseries:

1. Production of disease free healthy and uniform growth seedlings.

2. More efficient use of expensive hybrid seed which reduces the cost of cultivation.

3. Fast establishment in main field with minimum transplantation shock.

4. Extended the growing season increases the yield by 30%.

5. More accurate prediction of harvest date.

Major components are:

a.    Automation unit: Diffuser & mixer, level control mechanism, tray dispenser machine, auto seeder (drum/cylinder seed), roto fill machine / auto tray filling machine, auto switch system, topping machine, watering station, conveyer –TRB, H- support conveyer.

b.    Sterilized Soil-less Medium (Coco Peat, Vermiculite, & Perlite) with Chemicals / Fertilizers - In Insulated Tray will be used.

c.    Green house: Seed germination chamber with computerized micro-climate control system to sense, control and monitor temperature, light, and Relative humidity.

d.    Primary Hardening Chamber: It is a facility with automation fertigation system and post hardening house (shadenet house).

e.    Other structures are: Packing room, store room, raw material processing  and trays washing station, power back-up unit, erection of solar panels for alternate energy source, equipment & tools, working station with training hall, residential quarters and transportation of vehicle.

             Production capacity: of 80.00 lakh seedlings per annum

Sandalwood nursery At COE, Mulugu :

1. As a part of Agro – Forestry, sandal wood nursery is being taken up in COE- Mulugu wherein 500 Kg of Sandal wood seed is procured from Forest Department Kerala for Production of sandal wood saplings.

2. Nursery activity is taken up under shade net in 3.5 acres. The seed received is treated with gibberellic acid (500 ppm) for breaking seed dormancy and treated with fungicide for prevention of soil borne diseases.

3. Out of 500 Kgs seed, 400 Kgs sown in Nursery bed and 100 Kgs seed sown in Poly Bags.

4. At present about 192500 saplings which were directly sown in poly bags and 344560 saplings which were sown in Primary Nursery beds then transplanted in polybags filled with soil mixture.

5. Another 3 lakh bags were filled with soil mixture and transplantation of  saplings  is going on and will be completed in 10 days.

6. About 8 lakhs sandal wood plants will be ready for distribution to the farmers from the months of July onwards.