Mechanised transplantation of paddy has been completed on about 38,000 acres in this district and the process of crediting the subsidy of Rs.4,000 an acre, given under the ‘kuruvai’ special package, in bank accounts is under way, Food Minister R. Kamaraj said here on Saturday.
Inaugurating an awareness programme on mechanised planting of paddy and the new crop insurance scheme at Alangudi, Mr.Kamaraj said that the district was allotted Rs.22.32 crore under the ‘kuruvai’ special package announced by the Chief Minister.
About 225 units of pipes, for farmers to irrigate their lands, had been distributed free of cost of farmers. Micronutrients for about 12,000 acres and zinc sulphate to cover about 25,750 acres had also been distributed, he said. The Minister informed that it had been planned to cover about 3.75 lakh acres under ‘samba’ and ‘thaladi’ paddy during the current year. Of this, direct sowing would be taken up in 1.87 lakh acres.
Farmers taking up ‘samba’ cultivation would be provided seed subsidy of Rs.10 a kg. Under the National Agriculture Development Programme, farmers taking up mechanised plantation would be given a back-ended subsidy of Rs.2,000 an acre.
