Tamil Nadu - Tirunelveli   

`Agri Expo on Wheels' flagged off

Staff Reporter

To take the latest techniques in the field of agriculture to the doorsteps of farmers

CREATING AWARENESS: Collector Atul Anand inspecting a farm implement before the launch of `expo on wheels' at Alangulam in Tirunelveli district on Thursday.

TIRUNELVELI: To take the latest techniques in the field of agriculture and allied subjects to the doorsteps of farmers and create awareness of welfare schemes being implemented by the Department of Agriculture, an `Agri Expo on Wheels' was flagged off at Alangulam near here on Thursday under the `Intensive Agriculture Extension Programme.'

Farmers can get any information they want to have from the departments of agriculture, horticulture, agricultural engineering, sericulture, agriculture marketing and animal husbandry from the mini-lorry, carrying highly informative pamphlets and booklets to increase crop production and productivity.

Moreover, the mobile unit would undertake soil testing and experts from Tamil Nadu Agriculture University would explain various farming techniques.

Farmers themselves can see high-yielding hybrid varieties of tomato, green chilly, ladies' finger etc. and get the techniques on farming these vegetables.

Flagged off by the Collector, Atul Anand, at Alangulam, about 30 km from here on Thursday, this lorry would visit all 628 villages spread in 19 blocks in the district, during the next 30 days between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Besides officials would unravel secrets behind successful farming, provide details of the Farmers' Social Security Scheme, benefits of National Horticulture Mission and salient features of Comprehensive Wasteland Development Programme.

"Since the System of Rice Intensification is gradually taking roots in the district after some innovative farmers had good harvest by using this technique, special emphasis would be on disseminating the idea to farmers. With the assistance of revenue officials, membership cards under the Farmers' Social Security Scheme would be provided.

Speaking at the launch of `Agri Expo on Wheels,' Collector Atul Anand said the mobile unit would be highlighting the achievements and schemes of various departments so that the farmers could understand these programmes and welfare measures.

As for the ongoing Hanuman River Basin Project, being funded by the World Bank, the Collector said officials from the international funding agency were quite satisfied with the manner in which the project was being executed.

"Our farmers have registered excellent yield of paddy planted on 140 hectares, using SRI technique and hence it should be taken to all parts of the district through this mobile unit. Moreover the administration is according the highest priority to provide high-yielding quality seeds and seedlings to the farmers," he said.

The Collector handed over the compact discs of Department of Information and Public Relations, highlighting the achievements of the State Government to be screened during the mobile unit's visit to villages.

P. Ponniah, Project Officer, District Rural Development Agency, R. Pragatheeswaran, Joint Director, Agriculture, P.J. Pandian, Department of Agronomy, Agriculture College and Research Institute, Killikulam, spoke.

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