Collector S. Malarvizhi, an agriculture graduate, donned the robes of an agriculture expert when she addressed farmers at a farm school and made field inspections, exhorting farmers to focus on mechanised farming to reap more benefits.
Ms. Malarvizhi, who had served as Joint Commissioner (Administration), Commercial Taxes, before assuming office as Collector in June, stunned the farmers and officials as she spoke extensively about bund cropping, mechanised farming and pest management system while addressing the farmers at Muthupatti on Wednesday.
She advised the farmers to take up bund cropping not only to earn additional income but also to enhance soil fertility. The farmers could grow flower crops and pulses on field bunds, which would go a long way in controlling pests and diseases attacking paddy crop, she said.
Ms. Malarvizhi, who inspected paddy fields at Samiyarpatti, advocated mechanised planting to address the growing labour problem and reduce the cost of farming. The farmers could make use of 100 per cent back-ended subsidy provided for mechanised planting, she said.
The Collector, who visited a System of Rice Intensification (SRI) field at Thoovangal village, advised the farmers to use Cono weeder between the rows and convert weeds into manure. The uprooted weeds under this method would get incorporated in the field, decompose and turn into green manure, she said.
R. Gurumoorthy, Joint Director of Agriculture, said that the district had witnessed widespread rainfall during the northeast monsoon and farmers had raised paddy crops on about 64,000 hectares. With the availability of Vaigai water, another 4,000 hectares were being brought under cultivation, he said.
Farmers had also raised millets and pulses on about 4,600 hectares and sugarcane on about 4,000 hectares, he said.
R. Sudarshan, Personal Assistant to Collector (Agriculture), accompanied the Collector during the field inspection.
Farmers advised to take up bund cropping not only to earn additional income but also to enhance soil fertility
