Tamil Nadu - Dindigul   

Model farms set up in three villages of Dindigul district

DINDIGUL: To increase yield and scale down production costs, the Agriculture Department has set up model paddy farms in 10 hectares in three villages introducing the System of Rice Intensification programme.

One farm is set up in two hectares at Chettinayakkanpatti, five hectares in Anaiapatti and three hectares in Mullipadi villages. Farmers will get a subsidy of Rs.2,000 for setting up trial plots.

The main objective of the programme is to improve farmers’ economic status and to get better yield in the limited area available.

Reduced inputs, less quantum of seeds for raising seedlings, elimination of root damage and minimum water use and labour costs are some of the major advantages of this programme.

Planting of young seedlings in model plot has commenced at Chettinayakkanpatti village near Dindigul on Thursday.

Overseeing the planting of seedlings at Chettiyapatti, Agriculture Officer S. Soundararajan said, three kg of seeds will suffice to raise seedlings in a hectare under the new concept, where as 20 to 30 kg of seeds will be required for raising ordinary crops.

Seedlings will be ready in 15 days for transplantation, thus slashing initial expenditure drastically.

Another plus point is that the number of tillers will be 30 in this hybrid variety, whereas it was just 18 in ordinary varieties.

The number of grains in each hybrid tiller is 150 grains against 100 in ordinary tillers.

On an average each farmer will get at least eight to nine tonnes per hectare.

Line sowing method ensures free aeration and free movement of sunlight eliminating chances of pest and insect attack. Weed control is also very high. Above all, duration of cultivation has also been reduced by 10 per cent.

Normally, period for raising Ponni is 150 to 160 days. Under the new system, it will be just 130 to 145 days.

The department has initiated this programme in a very limited area only. On successful trial of this project, the new concept would be propagated extensively among farmers in other parts of the district, he added.

Farmers in Chettiyapatti have sown ADT-45 paddy variety under this programme.

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Model farms set up in three villages of Dindigul district

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