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Mithi calls for technological training to farmers

Special Correspondent

Inaugurates three-day annual `Farm Fest' in Puducherry

FARM FEST 2007: Lt. Governor Mukut Mithi (second from left) releases a souvenir after inaugurating the annual flower show at the Botanical Gardens in Puducherry on Friday. From left are Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, Agriculture Minister V. Vaithilingam and AIADMK legislator A. Anbalagan.

Puducherry: Lt. Governor Mukut Mithi has said that the Puducherry Development Plan has identified "mushroom and orchid cultivations" as two potential areas in farm sector, which suited the climatic conditions of Puducherry. Inaugurating a three-day annual Farm Fest 2007 organised by the Department of Agriculture at the Botanical Garden here on Friday, Mr. Mithi said that farmers should be trained in the technical aspects and should be provided adequate support to meet the cost of technology apart from marketing facilities. Farmers should be educated on the large export market for these crops. Mithi, who released a souvenir on the occasion, said that with little scope for raising the net sown area from the present extent of 21,034 hectares in the Union territory, there should be an option for strategies like increasing crop yields and diversification of crops.

Agriculture accounted for minor proportion of Gross State Domestic Product here. But it was still a main source of livelihood for 30 per cent of the population. He appreciated the Government for establishing 38 "uzhavar udhaviyagams" to provide information to farmers.

He wanted a study be made to review their functioning. He said precision farming to optimise agricultural production was an important and popular concept. He wanted a focussed attention on agro-based industries here.

Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, who presided, said that there was practically no barren or rain-fed land here. He said when lands were shrinking in size, farmers should be encouraged to take up diversification of crops to stabilise income.

He said that skill-development of farm labourers through Industrial Training Institutes would be taken up soon.

Agriculture Minister V. Vaithilingam, AIADMK legislator (Uppalam) A. Anbalagan, Chairperson of the Puducherry Municipal council B. Sridevi, Chief Secretary Pradip Mehra, Secretary to Agriculture D.C. Sahoo and Director of Agriculture Sathiaseelan also spoke.

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