The State Monitoring Officer and Agricultural Production Commissioner, Sandeep Saxena, at a review meeting held here on Tuesday, asked the officials to promote and expand drip irrigation scheme among farmers in Ariyalur district.
He said farm ponds could be built to harness rainwater as Ariyalur was a rain-fed district. Officials should drive home the importance of water conservation, he said. The Cooperative Department should arrange for loans for drip irrigation.
Mr. Saxena called upon the officials to supply early to farmers agricultural inputs, which are subsidised by the Horticulture and Agriculture departments. The government scheme to provide protected drinking water should be utilised fully, he said and urged the officials to expedite all development works being carried out in the district. Mr. Saxena reviewed the schemes being implemented through Revenue and Social Welfare departments. He inspected a jasmine farm at Mallur and ascertained from farmers the benefits of drip irrigation and whether they had been given full subsidy under the scheme. District Collector M. Ravikumar and District Revenue Officer Karuppasamy were present, an official release said.
