Tamil Nadu - Perambalur   

Farm works gaining momentum

By M. Balaganessin

A farmer of Alathur in Perambalur district preparing the field for cultivation.

PERAMBALUR, OCT.1 . Farm operations in this district have gained momentum following moderate to heavy rain in the last few days.

Agriculture Department officials, who were upset over the fall in the area under rain-fed crops especially groundnut, hope that the current spell of rain can cause an increase in the area of cultivation of maize.

In fact, they expect more than normal coverage of anywhere up to 30,000 hectares under maize.

They point out that a large number of cotton growers have switched over to maize this season. For, 10,000 hectares had so far been brought under the crop as the black soil in the district was suitable for the crop.

Farmers in villages like Perali, Sithali, Kunnam, Mathur, Valikandapuram and Ranjankudikottai have sown the crop.

With the duration of the crop being 110 days, farmers are hopeful of getting adequate returns from maize.

The current spell has enabled the farmers to take up preliminary works and prepare their fields for cultivation of different crops. However, officials and farmers pray for a lull in the current spell.

`Rain during the next week will not only deter the preparatory works but will also cast an adverse impact on the standing crop, especially the kururvai crop, raised in a few parts of the district,' says the State secretary of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, R. Raja Chidambaram.

Farmers in and around Alathur have taken up ploughing activities. A farmer says that he wants to utilise the current spell of rain though he is yet to sell the onions produced in the last season.

The Deputy Director of Agriculture, R. Narayanasamy, said that the district had registered 207.49 mm of rain in September. But a let-up at least for a week will facilitate farming activities, he said.

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