The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : M.S. Swaminathan moots special agriculture zones

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 21, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

M.S. Swaminathan moots special agriculture zones

Special Correspondent

Says the goal is to protect prime agriculture land for increasing productivity Says goal is to protect prime land for increasing productivity

IN APPRECIATION: Agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan presenting an award to the All Women Farmers Club of Kallar Pasupathi Koil at a function in Chennai on Tuesday. NABARD Chief General Manager K.V. Raghavulu (extreme right) is in the picture. &# 151; Photo: K. Pichumani

CHENNAI: Agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan has suggested special agriculture zones be promoted for protecting prime agriculture land.

The need of the hour was to keep the good prime land and high farm productive areas under agriculture. Furthermore, there were swathes of land whose potential had not been tapped. All these should be brought under the special zones for improving farm production, he said addressing members of farmers' clubs here on Tuesday.

Prof. Swaminathan said these clubs should serve as knowledge centres to help farmers adopt improved farm practices for getting higher productivity.

The aim should be more grain per drop. Sharing of information would improve the income of farmers, besides creating additional employment opportunities.

It was unfortunate that a majority of small and marginal farmers were not aware of the welfare schemes of the Government.

The clubs should educate farmers about them. In the current budget, the Centre proposed to start rural common service centres throughout the country to educate farmers on increasing productivity and using water judiciously. The clubs should associate themselves with these centres, he said.

Recognition for ryots

Regretting that farmers had not been given due recognition, Mr. Swaminathan said those who had done exceptionally well in agriculture should be honoured with "Padma awards."

He distributed awards for the best performing clubs.

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Chief General Manager K.V. Raghavulu said at Atpresent, banks were meeting only 60 per cent of the credit needs of farmers. For the rest, they depended on moneylenders, who were charging a high rate of interest.

The following farmers clubs won prizes: Jeyankondapattinam Farmers Club, Sangamangalam Farmers Club, All Women's Farmers Club, Kallar Pasupathi Koil, Gangavalli Farmers Club, Chinampalli Farmers Club, Dharmapuri, and Uzhaipallar Uzhavar Mandram, Villupuram.

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