Tiruchi district is getting ready for samba cultivation in 60,000 hectares. According to a release from Collector Jayashree Muralidharan seedlings are being prepared for the purpose.
Under the Chief Minister’s special scheme for improving the samba area and productivity, which is being implemented at a cost of Rs.3.46 crore, community nurseries have been raised in 750 acres and seedlings distributed free of cost to 5,579 small and marginal farmers in the delta region to take up samba cultivation in 9,375 acres.
Besides, more than 581 metric tonnes of certified seeds of high-yielding varieties like White Ponni, AST 19, ADT39, Co®49, Co®50 and BPT 5204 have been stored in the block agricultural extension offices. Of that as much as 555 MT has been distributed.
While inputs to the tune of Rs.3,000 are given as subsidy per hectare under the National Agricultural Developmental Programme for promoting System Rice Intensification method, farmers are being given Rs.5 per kilogram of paddy seed through all the agricultural extension centres and primary agricultural co-operative banks.
In addition, it has been targeted to distribute chemical fertilizers with 25 per cent subsidy (worth Rs.1,125) for 6,800 hectares. This subsidy would be disbursed as and when the fertilizers are purchased from the primary agricultural cooperative banks.
