State Agriculture Minister S.S. Krishnamoorthy has asked scientists to make preparations to counter the effects of the El Nino factor in the South West Monsoon.
Impact Speaking at the 80 Scientific Workers’ Conference at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Conference on Friday, he said that just as Indonesia and the Philippines had taken cautionary measures to counter the El Nino factor, the scientists should take steps. They should also study its impact on monsoon and agriculture.
Appreciating the efforts taken to bridge the gap between agriculture scientists and field workers in the agriculture, horticulture, agriculture engineering and agriculture marketing departments, he said that the gap should be further reduced.
Sandeep Saxena, Agriculture Production Commissioner and Secretary, Agriculture, Government of Tamil Nadu, spoke on the Government’s schemes, micro irrigation plan, ‘samba’ special package, crop insurance and relief provided to farmers.
Satyabrata Sahoo, Commissioner of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, said that the State stood fourth in the nation in the production of horticulture corps. He stressed on the need for improving export potential of horticulture crops by adopting organic methods of cultivation.
K. Ramasamy, Vice-Chancellor, TNAU, wanted the University students to take up as projects the challenges the farmers faced on the fields.
Deputy Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Assembly V. Jayaraman, Members of Legislative Assembly, Members of Parliament-elect from Coimbatore and Pollachi and others participated.
