: The Agriculture Department has planned to promote mechanised transplantation of paddy nurseries on about 10,600 hectares during this samba season. Farmers would be extended a back-ended subsidy of Rs.3000 a hectare for carrying out transplantation using transplanters under the National Agriculture Development Programme.
“We expect to promote the use of mechanised transplantation in about 20 per cent of the total area covered under the samba season this year,” an official said.
Paddy nurseries would be transplanted using machines in 800 hectares in Andhanallur taluk. Mat nurseries are being raised in the fields of progressive farmers in villages such as Thiruvalarsolai. The Joint Director of Agriculture R.Chandrasekaran inspected the process of raising the mat nurseries at the village on Monday. Mat nurseries would be raised in the fields of progressive farmers so as to cover 20 per cent of the paddy area in all taluks in the district, officials said.
Farmers interested in availing the subsidy can register their names with the Agricultural Extension Centres or officials of the Agriculture Department in their respective areas. The back-ended subsidy would be credited to bank accounts of farmers concerned.
Paddy is expected to be raised on about 58,900 hectares of land in the district during the samba season this year.
Agriculture Department officials expect paddy to be raised on about 36,400 hectares in the canal irrigated areas of the district and another 22,500 hectares in the non-delta areas.
With a majority of farmers in the district unable to raise the kuruvai crop due to delayed opening of the Mettur reservoir, samba paddy cultivation is expected to be taken up in full swing.
Farming operations are expected to commence towards the end of this month across the district when water for irrigation is released in irrigation canals.
Samba paddy cultivation to be taken up in full swing
Farm operations to begin towards month-end
