The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Mettur water release expected to lift farmers’ spirits

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 02, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Mettur water release expected to lift farmers’ spirits

Staff Reporter

NAGAPATTINAM: With the much awaited Mettur water expected to reach the Vennar division in about a week, the district administration hopes to offset the disappointment of farmers during kuruvai season. The normal area under samba cultivation in the district is 1.2 lakh hectares, but about 1.15 lakh hectares are to be covered this season.

“This increase includes about 13,000 ha of kuruvai area shortfall,” said Vishwanathan, Assistant Director, Agriculture, P.A. to Collector. Kuruvai season saw about 22,000 ha under cultivation which is way below its total area of 35,000 ha.

According to the Agricultural Department officials, district administration and the department are gearing up to meet this increase and the subsequent demand for agricultural inputs.

Seed availability is pegged at about 1,064 tonnes and is made available through agricultural extension centres in all 11 blocks in the district. “Savithiri, DPT 5204, Aduthurai 38 & 39 and Tiruchi 1 are the ruling varieties that will be available,” said Mr.Vishwanathan. Intended seed stock through co-operative societies is about 900 tonnes, but the current stock is 280 tonnes. Additionally, about 463 tonnes are expected to be made available through 82 licensed private dealers.

On the fertilizers front, 2,900 tonnes of urea, 2,680 tonnes of DAP, 1,020 tonnes of potash and 450 tonnes of complex fertilizers are made available through cooperative societies and private dealers.

Immediate requirements of DAP for basal applications for planting will be available only through cooperative societies. Additionally 75,000 packets of bio-fertilizers are available to meet a requirement of 10 packs per hectare.

As for the area under system of rice intensification technique of cultivation, about 29,700 cono-weeders are readily available.

“About 50 per cent of the area is under SRI and considering its benefits in terms of yield, cono-weeders have been stocked.” Moreover, under the National Food Security Mission, farmers’ field schools are to be held for 14 weeks in 58 villages.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu