Farmers should take full advantage of the latest technology in agriculture to increase productivity, said Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment D. Napoleon.
Speaking after inaugurating a seminar-cum-exhibition on ‘Agriculture Techniques,' organised by the Agriculture Department here, Mr. Napoleon spoke about the services being rendered through the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) for propagating the latest advancement in agricultural technology to the farmers.
Farmers under the ATMA took up group activities, sharing their knowledge and experience, he said. Due priority was given to women farmers.
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A coordinated effort by various departments including the Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Sericulture Departments was another major advantage of the scheme, he said.
The Union Minister said the ATMA scheme sensitised the farmers to the importance of System of Rice (SRI) technique of cultivation.
M. Vijayakumar, District Collector, appealed to the farmers to conduct soil tests in their fields and take corrective measures for stepping up productivity.
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10 farmers honoured
Earlier, Mr. Napoleon honoured 10 farmers each with a certificate in recognition of their hard efforts for stepping up agricultural productivity.