The Hindu : Govt. measures to help farmers tide over crisis

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 15, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

Govt. measures to help farmers tide over crisis

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI, FEB.14. Taking into account the immediate and long-term needs of farmers, the State Government has initiated steps to help farmers tide over water crisis.

The system rice intensification, alternative crops to paddy and precision farming are some of the measures, the Agriculture Minister, P. Annavi, said here today.

Addressing farmers at the Farmers Day celebrations organised by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, the Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College and Research Institute, the National Research Centre for Banana and the Farmers' Training Centre, Lalgudi, at Navalur Kuttapattu near here, Mr. Annavi said the Government was sensitive to farmers' water needs and initiated steps to overcome any crisis. He stressed that farmers should raise gingelly, sorghum, sunflower and millets as alternative crops to paddy.

They could get higher returns from low expenditure through the system rice intensification techniques. Under the newly promoted precision farming methods, micro irrigation and prudent water management would be introduced to the water-starved farmers, Mr. Annavi said.

Tapioca farmers could better benefit by adopting the techniques.

The Minister, also Pro-Chancellor of the TNAU, said the university had played a leading role in helping the Government to take measures for the welfare of the farmers.

Also, under the pioneering integrated wasteland development project, efforts had been made to reclaim 1.19 lakh acres of wasteland, planting over 70 lakh saplings till the end of last year.

Under the drought relief programmes, a lot of water sources had been desilted. The rainwater harvesting structures would also benefit the farmers largely.

The TNAU Vice-Chancellor, C. Ramasamy, said farmers should equip themselves to face a knowledge-based farming in future. The TNAU had provided the necessary infrastructure for farmers.

Contract farming, especially in cotton, was picking up and could be adopted. Prospective exporters could approach our various institutes for help, he added.

The Dean, ADAC&RI, S. Anthony Raj, and a host of officials and farmers attended.

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