A total of 60,750 acres will be covered under samba cultivation during the forthcoming season and the Agriculture Department has geared up to achieve higher yield of paddy this year, said Collector E.Saravanavel Raj.
While 30,000 acres will be under delta areas, the balance 30,750 acres is located in non-delta blocks, he said while addressing farmers at the monthly agriculturists’ grievances day meeting held here on Friday.
An awareness campaign is being organised in villages to sensitise farmers to latest farming technology and practices, he said.
Farmers are being trained to adopt mechanical transplantation of saplings, selection of seeds, and crop protection and fertilizer management techniques.
The district has realised 293.35 mm of rain till July this year which was 127.67mm more than last year.
The Collector called upon farmers to take advantage of the special schemes being implemented in the district, particularly National Agriculture Development Programme and Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative.
About 95 villages has been identified for developing clusters under the System of Rice Intensification.
When a section of farmers raised the issue of increasing the area for pulses cultivation, Mr.Saravanavel Raj said that 38 villages have been identified for cultivating pulses on 2,288 hectares. The Agriculture Department will also introduce drip irrigation scheme under the Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative. About 290 hectares will be covered under the programme with cent per cent subsidy for drip irrigation equipment.
The Collector earlier inaugurated a touch-screen kiosk under the Agrinet programme for providing various information to farmers. He also gave away indemnity of Rs.87,500 to 17 farmers of Andimadam.