Tamil Nadu - Nagapattinam   

Rice intensification to cover 7.50 lakh hectares

NAGAPATTINAM: The Agriculture Department has targeted to bring 7.50 lakh hectares under System of Rice Intensification during the ensuing crop season, Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam said on Tuesday.

Addressing a function after inaugurating the new building of the Agricultural Marketing Committee here , he said paddy was raised on nearly four lakh hectares this year under the new method of cultivation, and the farmers had achieved a good yield at a less cost. The method yielded an average of eight tonnes per hectare. Some farmers in Coimbatore and Cuddalore districts achieved a maximum of 11 tonnes.

Mr. Arumugam said paddy harvester, transplanter and thrashing machines were being used by farmers throughout the State. A machine was being developed for harvesting sugarcane.

He said the Government decided to open 50 more ‘uzhavar sandhais’ (farmers’ market) this year, and 35 places had so far been identified.

Collector Tenkasi S. Jawahar said nearly 1.39 lakh farmers in the district were given Ra.161 crore in crop loans during 2007-08.

A ‘uzhavar sandhai’ would soon be opened at Sirkazhi. The markets at Nagapattinam and Mayiladuturai sold 2,367 tonnes of vegetables last year.

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

Stories in this Section

Rice intensification to cover 7.50 lakh hectares

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu