Using technology, farmers in the district are now getting SMS in their mobile phones on information about wind direction, soil temperature, humidity and expected rainfall from all-weather stations, said Collector L. Subramanian.
Officials of the Department of Agriculture, Agri-Engineering and Horticulture had organised a tour for media persons on Wednesday for an on-the-spot visit of various works under way and facilities provided for the farmers.
Briefing reporters, the Collector said that the all-weather stations, which functioned in 13 blocks in the district, would disseminate information to registered farmers, who could learn about the different parameters of weather and accordingly carry on their farm activities. For instance, a farmer who had planned harvest after a week, could advance it based on weather parameters and thus save the produce from getting damaged.
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Under the watershed activity, the officials had formed a new oorani (tank) measuring 76 metres x 21 metres at Attapatti, which could store rainwater and also enable recharging of groundwater table in the locality.
Praising the horticulture department officials, Dr. Subramanian said that in a bid to give a fillip to horticulture crops, close to 18.5 lakh seedlings of mango, guava and sapotta were distributed to the farmers in the district. “This is expected to bring in higher production in the ensuing harvest season,” he hoped.
Very recently, the agri-marketing officials had opened a new integrated procurement facility at Mattuthavani market complex. This, he said, had benefitted both the farmers and merchants to a great extent, thus eliminating the role of middlemen. The mega size facility could store close to 14,500 tonnes of different commodities brought by the farmers here. A similar facility at Usilampatti, which could store around 2,500 tonnes, was under construction and would be dedicated to the farmers soon, he added.
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