The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Dharmapuri News : Wider coverage for precision farming

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 01, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Dharmapuri

Wider coverage for precision farming

Staff Reporter

Project to be expanded in six more districts

DHARMAPURI: The State Government has given approval for expansion of the Tamil Nadu Precision Farming Project in six more districts to cover 600 hectares during the year 2005-06, said the Vice-Chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, C. Ramasamy, at Palacode here on Saturday.

Speaking at a field day interaction with farmers, he said that following the success of the project in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts, the project would now be expanded to the districts of Theni, Erode, Vellore, Cuddalore, Tirunelveli and Thanjavur at an outlay of Rs.10 crores.

Mr. Ramasamy said that the project was being implemented in 200 hectares by the TNAU in Dharmapuri district over three years. About 30 hectares of Chilli hybrid (NS-1701) and 20 hectares of hybrid tomato (US-618) were raised successfully.

Forum formed

He said that the beneficiary farmers of the project, in tune with the changing times and through application of hi-tech horticulture, were gearing up to export their produce to the quality standards of the world market.

Presently an association had also been formed under the name of Athiyaman Precision Farming Farmers Forum and the produces were being sent through this association, he said.

The vegetables and other agricultural produce from this project enjoyed a premium price in all the markets because of the high quality and uniformity of the products. Farmers from other districts also visited the area to have a first hand knowledge on the latest farming technologies. The crops raised by the members of the forum were covered with crop insurance, which safeguarded the interest of the farmers.

He said that the farmers were taken on tour to major vegetable markets viz., Koyambedu, Chennai, SAFAL, Bangalore, Wholesale market, Coimbatore, and Cochin market, Kerala and were sensitised on current market preferences.

As a result, there had been a demand from buyers for vegetables raised through the project. The Dean and Nodal Officer of the Project, E. Vadivel, former Vice-Chancellor of TNAU, G. Rangasamy, and other officials participated.

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