The state government has decided to rope in private industries to manufacture quality nets locally to reduce the cost of protecting grapes, orchards and crops from unseasonal rain and hailstorms.

District guardian minister Girish Mahajan said on Saturday that local manufacturing of the net would bring down the cost by 50%. Farmers have to buy imported protection nets for crops at the cost at Rs 6.5 lakh per acre.

Unseasonal rain and hailstorms badly affected grapes, pomegranates, onion and other crops in the district in February and March. The hailstorms have been hitting the district for the past three consecutive years. Hence, farmers need to focus on protective farming by utilising nets to cover their orchards and crops.

Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/