Ratnagiriरत् नागिरी

What the plan promotes

• ▸Ratnagiri is an officially notified Agri-Export Zone for Alphonso mangoes; horticulture (mango, cashew, coconut, arecanut) covers about 1.75 lakh ha and plantation & horticulture credit potential is Rs.267.53cr under the Integrated Horticulture Development Mission, with 100% subsidy for mango/cashew planting under the Employment Guarantee Scheme.
• ▸Crop production carries Rs.1150.82cr of credit potential (about 34% of the plan); rice and ragi (nachni) are the main kharif crops on a net sown area of 2.61 lakh ha, with paddy alone on roughly 70,572 ha.
• ▸All nine blocks are now covered under GOI's 10,000-FPO scheme: Ratnagiri block for mangoes and Lanja for cashew (CBBO: Agriculture Development Trust, Baramati), Guhagar for organic cashew and Sangmeshwar for turmeric (CBBO: MCDC), with NABARD-appointed CBBOs forming FPOs in the remaining five blocks.
• ▸MSME potential of Rs.902.70cr (about 26% of the plan) is the key non-farm growth driver — the PLP says congenial conditions must be created for a thriving MSME industry to generate large-scale employment for rural youth, backed by MUDRA, Stand Up India, PMEGP, CMEGP, AIF and PMFME.
• ▸Fisheries potential of Rs.36.37cr leverages the district's 167 km coastline and many creeks/rivers, offering scope for marine, brackish-water and fresh-water fish culture; the plan flags a huge low-value-fish raw-material base for processing and value addition, and fish farming in lined farm ponds under Magel Tyala Shet Tale and Jalyukta Shivar.
• ▸Dairy (Rs.61.84cr), poultry (Rs.11.67cr) and goat rearing are thrust areas — the State has decided to upgrade a Common Facility Centre for goat rearing in each revenue department with Rs.50 crore made available per project.

Gaps the plan names

• ▸Very low net irrigated area — present irrigation covers only 2.26% of net sown area (about 8,000 ha); the plan urges construction of small/medium rainwater-harvesting structures, desilting of reservoirs and more drip/micro-irrigation to expand irrigated land and boost horticulture.
• ▸Fragmentation and multiple ownership of land, plus 83% of holders being small and marginal farmers controlling only 33% of agricultural land, reduces financing — the plan wants new/SF/MF/tenant/share-cropper farmers organised into JLGs, Farmers' Clubs and Gat Sheti to widen crop-loan coverage.
• ▸Inadequate storage and marketing facilities near production areas and in interior talukas — need for more APMC markets, post-harvest infrastructure (including for perishable and price-sensitive crops), and proper transportation.
• ▸Weak allied-activity infrastructure — more veterinary dispensaries, AI centres and livestock markets are needed, plus breeding farms for rams and bucks; credit to the small-ruminant sub-sector remains a constraint to be eased through NABARD's SHG/JLG/FPO products.
• ▸The fishery sector needs basic amenities for fish landing, cold chain and processing, plus boat repair and maintenance, to realise its marine and inland potential.