Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

Transport Minister gets carried away by SRI method

IMPRESSED: Transport Minister K.N. Nehru, right, giving away SRI paddy saplings to the farmers at Lalgudi in Tiruchi district. Collector T. Soundiah, left, is also seen in the picture.

TIRUCHI: Enamoured by the success stories of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) technique promoted among farmers, Transport Minister K.N.Nehru too has taken to the method.

The Minister, who hails from an agricultural family, has decided to adopt the technique in about 5.25 acres of his land in Lalgudi.

On Saturday, he inaugurated the transplanting of the paddy nursery at his farm.

According to Agriculture Department officials, Mr.Nehru on hearing the success stories of farmers who have adopted the technique had shown keen interest in adopting the method in his own farm.

He had sought the advice of the Agriculture Department officials, based on which he had hired ‘laser levelling’ equipment, since levelling of land was a prime requisite under the SRI technique. Collector T.Soundiah and Joint Director of Agriculture N.Ponnusamy were present.

The Agriculture Department has targeted to promote the SRI technique in about 4,500 hectares out of the kuruvai area of 6,000 hectares in the district this year.

Already, 1,300 hectares have been covered. During the year, about the technique would be promoted in 24,000 hectares spread over kuruvai, samba and thaladi seasons.

During the previous year, 21,000 hectares were brought under the SRI technique, with good results being reported by farmers.

The cultivation cost for an acre, by adopting the technique, would work out to just about Rs.7,500 and the yield would increase substantially, officials said.

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