PUDUKKOTTAI: The State Government will go in for cluster-based development of private wasteland, similar to the free two-acre land scheme, to improve the income of the poorest among the poor farmers.
Each cluster should have a minimum of 50 acres, Agricultural Production Commissioner and Agricultural Secretary Surjit K. Chaudry told reporters on Wednesday.
Before the government embarked on the two-acre land scheme, he said, it conducted a survey to identify government ‘porambokke’ land fit for reclamation and irrigation.
A total of 165 clusters had been identified. The government had so far spent Rs.7.80 crore on improving irrigation under cluster development programme, benefiting 1,685 persons.
A maximum of 80 acres had been developed at Baraniputhur village in Dindigul district.
Mr. Chaudry said the government had sanctioned Rs. 6 crore for the purchase of 50 tractors and 25 combined harvesters. Besides the beneficiaries of the two-acre land scheme, the needy farmers could make use of the machines.
As for land reclamation in non-cluster areas, he said jungle-clearing and chisel- ploughing had been completed on 28,889 acres out of 32,737 acres. Soil health cards had been issued to 75,467 persons.
SHGs to be formed
Mr. Chaudry, who earlier inspected the cluster development programme in parts of the district, said the work was in full swing at Meladhaniyam, Vellapillaiyarpatti, Chettipatti and Marudhur. The work at Melnilaivayal and Kalabam, rocky villages, would be completed by October-end.
Varieties suited for alkaline soil would be raised on 900 acres. Additional tractors would be deployed for reclaiming the land allotted to landless farmers.
Impressed by the enthusiasm evinced by women of Marudhur for raising nurseries, Mr. Chaudry advised Collector S. J. Chiru to float self-help groups. The government would sanction subsidy to the beneficiaries.
The government had sanctioned 1,700 farm ponds to the district, and a total of 485 farmers had submitted their applications so far.
Mr. Chaudry reviewed the progress of the ‘Free Two acre land’ scheme with the officials. The District Collector S. J. Chiru and the Executive Director of Tamil Nadu Watershed Development Agency, Chennai, Atul Anand were among those present.
Printer friendly
page Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
