Azolla cultivation gets priority in Vizianagaram

VISAKHAPATNAM: The animal husbandry department in Vizianagaram district is implementing a major byproduct boost through Azolla cultivation. The department has been given a Rs 100 crore budget as part of a convergence project under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. The promotion of Azolla cultivation is a key component in this project.

Sources in the department said there are over seven lakh cross-bred, high yielding and low grade cattle (buffalos and cows) in the district and many of them provide small farmers with an alternative source of income. These farmers are close to two lakh in number and can promote Azolla cultivation.

MVA Narsimhulu, JD, animal husbandry department, said, “A comprehensive survey of these farmers is being taken up across the district. The purpose is to identify the number of farmers with land plots, so that cultivation can be taken up.”

He also added that the fern cannot be cultivated in extremely hot and dry places.

Regarding the cultivation of Azolla, sources in the agriculture department pointed out that the cultivation process is not difficult but temperatures have to be kept in mind. Azolla cannot be cultivated in places where the temperatures are likely to cross 35 degrees Celsius. The ideal temperature ranges between15-35 degrees Celsius.

Sources said Azolla should be grown in ponds and tanks where the water is not free-flowing. District collector M Hari Jawahar Lal said, “We need to create clusters of farmers to grow Azolla on a commercial scale. The process is on to identify as many farmers as possible for such exclusive clusters.”