In spite of various steps taken by the government to modernise farm activities, most of the farmers are still hesitant to change their traditional farm practices. However, Arungal alias Karuvelkadu, an interior and arid village in Ariyalur district, is all set to be declared as the first village in the region to bring entire tracts of cultivable lands under drip irrigation.
According to official sources, there are 40 farmers with 250 acres in the village, which is close to Thirumanur. Of them, nearly 240 acres has been brought under drip irrigation thanks to interest shown by progressive farmers. They have fully utilised the subsidy schemes of the State and Central governments to introduce drip irrigation in their fields. Just two farmers are left in the village to join the drip irrigation club. They are inclined to embrace drip irrigation. If they avail the schemes of State and Central governments to install drip irrigation, the village will get the rare name of becoming the first village in shunning traditional irrigation practices.
“We are in the process of documenting the details of farmers, who have installed drip irrigation. Horticulture officials have approach a few more farmers to install drip irrigation. If that happens, we will soon declare it a cent per cent drip irrigation covered village,” Collector E. Saravanavelraj told The Hindu .
It all started when P. Poomalai (50), a small and tiny farmer of Arungal, brought a small piece of land under drip irrigation by availing subsidy in 2006. Since he found the method highly useful in saving water, he soon brought all 5 acres under the drip irrigation. Following the success, it was said that other farmers of the village slowly shifted to drip irrigation.
“Drip irrigation has changed the agricultural profile of our village. Almost all of us are irrigating our fields through drip pipes. We get maximum output with less water for irrigation,” says Mr. Poomalai.
P. Anburajan, Deputy Director of Horticulture, said that no other village in the region had high percentage of drip irrigation coverage. It was truly remarkable. It could be made as a model village for drip irrigation adaptation. They had been irrigating through drip for most of horticultural crops including groundnut, tapioca, watermelon and others.
“We feel proud to be called as progressive farmers. Besides drip irrigation, we fully follow mechanisation methods for all operations,” says P. Arul Murugan, a farmer.
Motivated by the interest of farmers in embracing drip irrigation, Collector Saravanavelraj has sanctioned a special fund to the tune of ₹ 25,000 to the village.
