Minister for Agriculture S. Damodaran on Sunday inaugurated a mega farmers’ festival - ‘Uzhavar Thiruvizha’, organised by Department of Agriculture to disseminate the latest farming technologies to farmers in the district and thereby meet the production targets envisaged under ‘Second Green Revolution’.
“Under the ‘Second Green Revolution’ underway in the State, it has been planned to double the crop production and increase the revenue of farmers threefold over a period of three years ending 2015,” Joint Director of Agriculture Mohammed Kalimullah Sherif said.
The ‘Uzhavar Thiruvizha’, to be held till May 20, would not only cover the farmers involved in raising agriculture crops but also those in the fields of horticulture, sericulture, animal husbandry and fisheries.
As part of the festival, officials from various departments would be carrying out field visits to educate farmers on conservation and judicious use of water resources, importance of periodic soil testing and pest control techniques.
Minister Mr. Damodaran released a handbook on the ‘Uzhavar Peruvizha’ in the presence of Minister for Public Works K.V.Ramalingam, Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment, District Panchayat Chairman M. Shanmugam, District Collector G. Govindaraj, Agriculture Director M. Rajendran, Mayor Visalakshi Appukutty and also Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor K. Ramasamy.
The Ministers distributed financial assistance and farm appliances worth Rs. 72.42 lakh to 114 beneficiaries at the function.
Hybrid agriculture crop varieties and farm gadgets were displayed at an exhibition held on the sidelines of the inaugural of the festival here.
A total of 15 farmers were given prizes for maintaining the free goats and sheep distributed to them under a government scheme, in accordance with guidelines prescribed.
