The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Minister assures more bus services to research station

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Monday, Dec 29, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Minister assures more bus services to research station

Staff Reporter

Nehru inaugurates new buildings at maize research facility

PALANI: More facilities, including adequate bus services, would be provided to the Maize Research Station to enable farmers to come to the station often for all technical assistance, said Minister for Transport and Agriculture K.N. Nehru.

He inaugurated new buildings for the research station at Vagarai near here on Sunday.

Reacting to a proposal to bring all milk producers in Palani taluk under a network to boost milk production like Anand Dairy in Gujarat made by Shanmugam, who donated 22.94 acres for this research station, the Minister assured that the government would extend necessary assistance.

Briefing the project activities at the first research station in the State, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor C. Ramasamy said that new buildings with all facilities, including a research lab for this station, were constructed at a cost of Rs.1 crore.

Developing hybrid maize and new technologies and imparting advanced training to maize growers and conducting joint research programmes with international maize research stations were its main objectives. Trial parks had been set up to enable farmers to get hands-on experience, he added.

Dindigul and Perambalur were major maize production centres in the State.

A total of 8.5 lakh acres were under maize cultivation and total production was around 7 lakh tonnes.

Precision farming and drip irrigation facility would boost maize production, Dr. Ramasamy said. He appealed for operating bus services to Vagarai as there was no transport facility to it from Marichilambu near Palani.

For drumstick

Palani MP S.K. Karvendhan urged the government to set up a research station for drumstick at Moolanur in Tirupur district, one of the major drumstick producing centres in the State. “We approached the Central Government for funds. We were told that the State government should send proposals for funds,” he said.

Government Chief Whip R. Chakkarapani said that all panchayats in Palani and Thoppampatti union would get drinking water facilities utilising Palar-Porundhalar dam waters.

Later, the Minister honoured Mr. Shanmugam, Director, Royal Classic Mills, for donating the land for the research station.

A total of 11,000 hectares were under well irrigation and 23,000 hectares under rain-fed areas in the district.

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