The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Production target for foodgrain 95.5 lakh tonnes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 04, 2007
ePaper

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Production target for foodgrain 95.5 lakh tonnes

Special Correspondent

Total production to exceed 100 lakh tonnes this year: Minister

State first in paddy production Foodgrain deficit is 19 lakh tonnes

CHENNAI: Anticipating favourable seasonal conditions and timely release of water from the Mettur reservoir, the State Government has set a production target of 95.50 lakh tonnes of foodgrains, including 78 lakh tonnes of paddy, for 2007-2008.

Moving the demand for grants for Agriculture, Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S.

Arumugam on Tuesday told the Assembly that available data indicated that Tamil Nadu stood first among the States in paddy production, achieving per hectare yield of 3,628 kg. The total foodgrains production was likely to exceed 100 lakh tonnes this year.

Even while sharing the concern of the Members at the shrinking area of crop cultivation and the foodgrain deficit, which stood at 19 lakh tonnes, he said the State was steadily increasing foodgrain production, thanks to use of modern technologies and hybrid seeds.

Restructuring of the Agriculture-related departments with a two-tier system to fill all vacancies at the block level, extending agricultural education to 100 more schools, setting up of 16 fertilizer control laboratories, establishing six pesticide testing laboratories, implementing irrigated agriculture modernisation and water bodies restoration and management project, creating awareness among farmers on system rice intensification technique, setting up of Uzhavar Sandhais at 50 more places and appointing permanent employees for these sandhais were among the schemes announced by him.

Soil-testing labs

According to him, the Government would establish eight mobile soil-testing laboratories, 11 soil-testing laboratories and distribute `soil health cards' to 77.24 lakh farm families.

A Bill would be introduced in current session of the Assembly to form the Agricultural Council. Seed-testing laboratories would be set up in all districts for which Rs. 216 lakh would be allocated.

Steps had been taken to create a green shelter in an area of one lakh sq km in Salem and Coimbatore districts under the National Horticulture Mission in 2007-2008. Pledge loan ceiling would be increased to Rs.1 lakh. Construction of drying yards would be taken up in 100 places at a cost of Rs.2.75 crore. A centenary building for Tamil Nadu Agricultural University would be constructed. The Government had sanctioned Rs.5 crore for this purpose, Mr. Arumugam said. Allocation of Rs.50 crore for the university would be used for setting up infrastructure facilities.

P. Senthamizhselvan (Pattali Makkal Katchi) said the crop insurance scheme should be made compulsory.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu