The government has allotted ₹5 crore for implementing an integrated farming scheme in Thiruvonam block of Thanjavur district.
Under the scheme, select farmers are to be encouraged to take up integrated farming through a host of income-generation activities including agriculture. Each farmer will get subsidy worth ₹1 lakh under various components. Apart from Thanjavur, the scheme is to be implemented in one block each in Tirunelveli, Madurai, Villupuram and Erode districts during the current year.
The scheme will be implemented in Kilamangalam, Unjiyaviduthi, Akkaraivattam, Sillathur, Vadakku Kottai, Athambai Therkku, Vettuvakottai, Therkku Kottai, Thoppu Viduthi and Ananthagopalapuram, Collector A. Annadurai said.
Fifty beneficiaries will be selected from each of these villages to make for a total of 500 beneficiaries in the district this year, he said.
Each farmer will be given saplings/seeds of agriculture, horticulture crops and for kitchen gardens, a couple of milch cows, six goats and 10 country chickens with subsidy. Besides, inputs for rearing fish and cattle will also be given. Farmers can also avail subsidy for establishing fish pond or bio-gas units with 50% subsidy. This will ensure that the waste generated from one activity is used as raw material for another farm activity. The scheme will also seek to make optimum utilisation of the available land and water resources.
The scheme will not only help increase their income but also help in improving soil health through recycling of farm waste. The production cost of farm produce will also come down through the integrated approach and ensure continuous income generation for beneficiaries, Mr. Annadurai said.
Officials of the departments of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries have already conducted awareness meetings in the villages. At present, applications are being collected from interested farmers. Priority is being given to small and marginal farmers in the implementation of the scheme.
Selected farmers will also be provided training and taken on farm visits to gain insights into best integrated farming practices. The subsidy component under the scheme will be directly credited to the beneficiary’s bank account.
Interested farmers can contact the Assistant Director of Agriculture in the taluk.
