Raipur, 21 June 2021 . Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel today launched Bastar Papaya Project in Bastar, Bijapur and Sukma districts during the inauguration of development and construction works and the virtual program of Bhoomi Pujan. Hi-tech community cultivation of papaya is being done in 30 acres of land in Tirathgarh, Mamadpal and Munga in Darbha block of Bastar district. In these three places, 5500-5500 papaya saplings of improved variety have been planted in 10 acres of land, which are now in fruiting condition. Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel lauded the success of community garden developed under the Bari component of Suraji Gaon Yojana and said that necessary measures should be taken to ensure that the farmers of Bastar get better price for their horticulture crops. The Chief Minister directed the collector to develop a cold chain system in view of the large scale cultivation of papaya, chilli and other horticultural crops in Bastar region.
Community cultivation of papaya in Tirathgarh is being done by women self-help groups in 10 acres of government land. Mrs. Hema Kashyap, who is associated with the women’s group, told that there are total 43 women in her group. With the help of District Administration and Horticulture Department, he had planted papaya saplings six months ago, which have come to fruition today. He informed that plucking and selling of papaya fruits will start from the coming September. In a year and a half from the community garden of papaya, his group will earn about one crore rupees. The Chief Minister took information from Smt. Hema Kashyap and the officials of Horticulture Department regarding improved cultivation of papaya in Tirathgarh. Amina variety saplings have been planted in Tirathgarh community garden. Papaya plants have been planted after DNA testing. Planted plants are dioecious. 550 saplings have been planted in one acre. The distance between them is 8 by 10 feet. On the same pattern, community cultivation of papaya has been done in villages Mamadpal and Munga in 10 acres of land. The harvesting of papaya fruit in all the three community gardens will start simultaneously in the month of September. Shri Vimal Chavda of Bastar Kisan Sangh informed that drip irrigation systems have been installed for irrigation of papaya plants in community gardens. In Bakavand block also, preparations are on for community cultivation of papaya in 100 acres of area.
