Tamil Nadu - Thanjavur   

Quantum jump in pulses cultivation in Thanjavur

By Our Staff Reporter

THANJAVUR, FEB. 22. There has been an increase in pulses cultivation in the district this year, according to Agriculture Department officials.

While only 12,000 hectares came under pulses cultivation last year, this year, so far, 16,470 hectares were brought under cultivation. The usual area under cultivation in the district is 33,500 hectares. "This year we expect to cover 30,000 hectares under pulses cultivation," the officials said. Sowing would be completed in a week's time. The crop is in good condition and a yield of 200 kg/hectare is expected, the officials added.

The crop is in the vegetative state now. It will enter the flowering stage within 10 to 15 days. "Farmers have been advised to spray diammonium phosphate when the crops are in the flowering stage to increase the yield," the officials said.

Thrust is given to pulses cultivation in the district where the crop is raised as rice fallow crop.

Move to introduce contract farming

This year, the department has planned to introduce the contract farming technique for pulses cultivation with the twin objectives of increasing production and providing marketing facility for the farmers. The plan is to bring some areas under contract farming of pulses. The Tamil Nadu Co-operative Marketing Federation was asked to identify farmers and give them the necessary inputs for raising pulses under contract farming.

Cultivation of

other crops

Farmers in the district are also involved in the cultivation of other crops. Cotton has so far been raised in 875 hectares against a target of 3000 hectares, Gingelly on 4,000 hectares against a target of 8,000 hectares, groundnut on 5,730 hectares and soya beans on 567 hectares. Sunflower has been raised on 150 hectares.

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