Even as organic farming practices are gradually taking roots in this agrarian district, blessed with the Tamirabharani, a Palayamkottai-based progressive farmer has achieved 11,215 kg paddy per hectare during the past ‘pisanam' season by following organic farming techniques.
Retired army Colonel Devadoss, possessing 13 acres of fertile wetland at Paaraikulam near Palayamkottai, is cultivating paddy for the past three years adopting organic farming practices and has been approved by the Department of Organic Farming Certification that he is only following organic methods of cultivation.
Participating in the paddy yield competition (organic farming) held on April 3, Col. Devadoss, who had cultivated ‘kitchadi samba' variety, has achieved a yield of 11,215 kg per hectare.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Since I strictly use only organic inputs in my field, the yield is excellent and the grains are so robust. There is no need for using any pesticide or insecticide in my field,” Col. Devadoss noted even as Joint Director of Agriculture, Tirunelveli, S. Subramanian, who is also the judge of the paddy yield competition, was monitoring the weighing of paddy harvested from the ex-army officer's field on the Palayamkottai – Tuticorin Highway.
K. Arumugam, Manager, Department of Organic Farming Certification, Madurai Region, Personal Assistant (Agriculture) to Tirunelveli Collector, M. Duraipandian and others were present.