The ‘Rajarajan 1000' system of cultivation is ideally suited not only for the scheduled system of cultivation but also for the delayed cropping pattern. Farmers of Kattaiyankudikadu village near Sendurai, have been successfully raising the late ‘samba' by adopting this system .
Paddy growers of the village used to raise ‘samba' during late October every year. But, the delay in the onset of north east monsoon coupled with poor storage in the local irrigation tank, had forced the farmers to forego the crop for the current season.
However, following the sharp showers in the last week of November and early December last year, the Agriculture Department officials had motivated the farmers about the advantages of the ‘Rajarajan 1000' system, and farmers have raised ‘ADT-45'— a late samba variety — under the ‘cereal development programme.'
Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S.Arumugam, who visited the fields at Kattayankudikadu village, near Sendurai, on Monday, enquired with the farmers, on the strategy being adopted by them under the ‘Rajararajan 1000' method .
Farmers said that the concept of drying and wetting (‘Kachalum patchalum') together with the periodical clearing of weeds had brought about a transformation in the cultivation practices. The use of Cono Weeder for smothering weeds was yet another benefit that has accrued to them under the ‘Rajararajan 1000' method. Farmers expressed hope that the yield this season would be at least 50 per cent more than the usual.
The Minister appreciated the efforts taken by the villagers in adopting the ‘Rajararajan 1000' concept, and advised officials to keep a track of the growth of the crop for guiding farmers to achieve a higher yield.
S.Sivakumar, Joint Director of Agriculture, said that an integrated approach was being adopted under the ‘Rajarajan 1000' method, with the joint efforts of officials handling the cereal development programme, Agricultural Technology Management Agency, and the National Agriculture Development programme. Mohan, Agriculture Officer, Government of India schemes, said that leaf-charts were being distributed to farmers to track the growth of paddy crop. Focus was on top-dressing of crops using fertilizers.
Mr.Veerapandi Arumugam distributed agricultural implements to farmers at Kumilzhiyam village, and identity cards under joint schemes being implemented by the Central and State governments.
