The Hindu : Front Page : Red soil research centre for Sivaganga

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 25, 2007
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Red soil research centre for Sivaganga

Shastry V. Mallady

Agricultural university plans studies on dryland crops

MADURAI: Tamil Nadu Agricultural University plans to set up the State's first Red Soil Dryland Research Centre in Sivaganga district soon. A proposal in this regard has been submitted to the State Government and about Rs. One crore will be spent in the first phase.

C. Ramasamy, Vice-Chancellor, who was on a visit to the Agricultural College and Research Institute in Madurai on Sunday, said that the aim was to develop right techniques for crops best suited for red soil.

Research would be carried out for pulses, groundnut and maize keeping in view that the water holding capacity of the soil had been coming down, he said.

The university was in touch with the Sivaganga district administration to identify a suitable land for the centre and it would be finalised after receiving the Government's clearance.

According to Dr. Ramasamy, Sivaganga was chosen because it was a red-soil district for the most partand appropriate studies could be carried out.

Some of the focus areas for research were moisture conservation, mechanised weeding, mobile sprinkling and ploughing technology.

As per the project outlay, at least Rs.4 crore would be required for establishing the centre on a large scale with adequate infrastructure.

Research on rain-fed conditions and mechanisation were essential in the wake of labour shortage felt in the agriculture sector.

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