Tamil Nadu - Dindigul   

Bio-mass clusters on 50 acres at Dindigul

DINDIGUL: To ensure four per cent growth in agriculture and to meet the growing demand for food, the Department of Agriculture would develop massive dry lands in the district under the National Agriculture Development Programme. Simultaneously, it would also provide all information required by farmers and form a bridge between farmers and agricultural universities for knowledge transfer and take technologies to the field from the laboratory.

To begin with, Punnampatti in Natham, R. Vellode in Gujiliamparai, Padiyur in Vadamadurai and Pannaipatti in Reddiyarchatram unions have been identified to develop bio-mass clusters, each in 50 acres, at an estimated cost of Rs.58.40 lakh.

Precision farming would be introduced in 1,000 hectares. Agriculture and Horticulture departments would develop 500 hectares each. With Rs.1 lakh grant, shade and net nurseries would be established.

Beneficiaries would undergo training in precision farming in Dharmapuri district. Pond and drip irrigation facilities would be developed with subsidies. The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University would offer trainers to guide farmers, according to Joint Director of Agriculture (In-charge) R. Shanmuga Sundaram.

Officials have started the preliminary work for creating land resource inventory and GIS based data for every farm village. To begin with, Oddanchatram block has been selected for this purpose. Basic map indicating cultivable land, natural resources, condition and types of soil, farm based map would be developed. Finally, a village level data base would be created for future planning.

Six hundred acres have been selected under for rain-fed area development in Palani, Thoppampatti, Reddiyarchatram and Sanarpatti unions.

Six clusters would be developed in each block. Self help groups would be roped in for making organic fertilisers, he added.

One hundred rain gauges would be installed in the district, seven each in Nilakottai, Batlagundu, Vedasandur and Vadamadurai blocks and eight in other nine blocks for accurate weather forecasts.

To install automatic weather stations, three places in each block have been identified. Scientists from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University would visit the district on June 20 and 21 to finalise suitable places.

Special focus is on farm mechanisation. A total of Rs.39 lakh allotted for the district.

Small harvester, multipurpose harvester, weeder, paddy thrasher, planter, pit-digging machine, ground decordicator, coconut de-husking machine would be offered at 50 per cent subsidy. National Agriculture Development Programme has been implemented in Dharmapuri, Namakkal, Coimbatore, Krishnagiri, Perambalur, Ramanathapuram, Salem and Villupuram districts.

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