Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

Carry forward schemes to achieve agriculture production target, Collectors told

Photo: M. Periasamy

Right advice: Minister for Agriculture Veerapandi S. Arumugam speaking at the inauguration of a workshop on System of Rice Intensification and National Agriculture Development Programme at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in Coimbatore on Saturday. —

Coimbatore: Minister for Agriculture Veerapandi S. Arumugam on Saturday urged the Collectors of 15 districts in northern and western Tamil Nadu to carry forward the agricultural schemes and initiatives for achieving production target.

Mr. Arumugam was inaugurating the one-day workshop for Collectors and heads of Agriculture, Horticulture and allied departments at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) on System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and National Agricultural Development Project (NADP).

In 2005-06, food production in the State was 74.14 lakh metric tonnes from 38.63 lakh hectares, it was 82.63 lakh metric tonnes from 39.41 lakh hectares in 2006-07 and it touched 100.35 lakh metric tonnes from 42 lakh hectares in 2007-08.

During the year 2008-09, the target had been fixed at 108 lakh metric tonnes from 45.50 lakhs. The decision of the Central Government to waive off agricultural advances benefited 15 lakh farmers in Tamil Nadu. The State Government through its contribution in enhancing procurement price for paddy and sugarcane had ensured that there was not a single case of farmer’s suicide.

Under the SRI, the State had established demo farms in 11,320 hectares and 56,600 farmers were trained. The system was implemented in 10 lakh acres. This ensured a paddy yield of 13.38 metric tonnes to 14.27 metric tonnes. Tamil Nadu bagged the distinction of being the only State to have properly adopted SRI.

During 2008-09, it had been proposed to carry on paddy cultivation under SRI in 7.5 lakh hectares and targets had been fixed for each district. Mr. Arumugam said that precision farming had helped in ensuring 200 to 700 per cent higher yield and during 2008-09, it had proposed to implement the same in 18,800 hectares in 29 districts, except Chennai at an outlay of Rs. 63.68 crore. Under the Wasteland Development Scheme in seven stages so far, 1.84 lakh acres of land had been given to 1.56 lakh farmers.

So far, Rs. 13.67 crore had been spent on wasteland development. The National Horticulture Movement implemented in 20 districts had got an allocation of Rs. 120 crore for the year 2008-09. The government had allocated Rs. 133 crore for implementation of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems in 50,000 hectares with 50 per cent subsidy and targets had been fixed for each district.

The government had earmarked Rs. 40 crore for bringing 24 lakh farmers under 50 per cent subsidy in premium under the crop insurance scheme to protect them from losses arising due to drought or flood. The Collectors should interact with Agriculture Department officials once a week. Mr. Arumugam also said that the Union Government has allotted DAP and mixture fertilizers for two more months. Collectors had been asked to identify Uzhavar Sandhais that required cold storage facility.

Agricultural Production Commissioner and Principal Secretary to Government, Surjit K. Choudhary said that a total of Rs. 1,250 crore was available for 2008-09.

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