Coffee plantations: A boon to tribal people
Coffee plantations raised in 4,000-odd hectares by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Development Corporation (APFDC) in seven mandals in the Agency area is a great boon to tribal women and men.
In all, 10,000 men and women work during December and January, the harvesting season, and 3,000 women work throughout the year for maintaining the plantations.
The coffee plantations are giving livelihood to 3,000 tribal women with an assured income of Rs.4,500 per month round the year. Each woman is paid a wage of Rs.1,53.40 per day...
High Level Eucalyptus Clonal Plantation
APFDC had been raising Industrial Plantations of Eucalyptus and Bamboo so far covering an area of 48,000 ha and 10,000 ha respectively. The plantations raised through seed in the past have given an average yield of only 10 MT/ha at the rotation age of 8/9 years as against projected yields of 40 MT/ha. The yield from subsequent rotations is only ⅓ rd to ¼th of first rotation.
The reasons attributed are inadequate soil preparation, low inputs, incidence of diseases and non-segregation/culling of seedlings at nursery stage. Pioneering efforts made by M/s Bhadrachalam Paper Boards Ltd. Have resulted in evolving Eucalyptus clones suitable for different Agro-climatic situations of the State...