Agriculture officials in a fix over inadequate rains

The State Principal Secretary to Government (Agriculture) Sandeep Saxena held discussions with the department officials on the possibilities of carrying on farm activities in the ensuing season in the region especially in the absence of adequate rains.

According to officials, Mr. Saxena, accompanied by Anil Meshram, Director TN Agri Business Marketing visited the Mattuthavani paddy complex, the Regulated Market at Tirumangalam and also held talks with Collectors of Madurai and Sivaganga districts.

The traders at the paddy complex wanted paver block tiles to be laid in the campus and in the flower market, the merchants made a representation for giving adequate sun shades in the premises. He also enquired about the functioning of the markets. The officials visited the Agmark lab and enquired about the analysis and procedures adopted in sampling of food products.

At Thirumangalam, near here, Mr. Saxena was explained about the new buildings coming up in the Regulated Market by the Agriculture Marketing Secretary Thavasu Muthu. A godown with a capacity of storing 2,000 metric tons and a cold storage facility is being built. He wanted the engineers to expedite the works on time. He held talks with the farmers on the facilities provided in the Market and appealed to them to make use of the agriculture implements. The official informed that for the benefit of farmers across the State, a task force would be formed, to monitor the progress and help attain the maximum possible production in food grains.

Collector meet

The Agriculture Secretary held talks with Madurai Collector Anshul Mishra on the prospects of rain and water availability. According to Agriculture officials, the district which has 65,000 hectares of cultivable area under paddy had already lost 9,000 ha of kuruvai cultivation in Melur pockets due to insufficient water.

Though there is some hope of carrying out farm activities for single crop cultivation, the farmers are keeping their fingers crossed.

In Sivaganga district, the ITC developed novel concept of e-choupal, which informs on the price range of commodities to farmers was explained to the officials. On a trial basis, some select farmers are getting prices now through this facility.

The ITC authorities were suggested to come out with a project to buy back the millets on a large scale all over the State as it constituted a major ingredient in biscuit manufacturing. The farmers would also be keen to produce more millets as the buy back arrangement would be a motivating factor, officials said. District Collector V. Rajaraman, Joint Director (Agriculture) Chelldurai, Deputy Director (Agri Business) C. Moorthy and among others were present.