The Agriculture Department has planned to increase productivity in cotton and maize by setting up demonstration plots for motivating farmers to adopt crop protection techniques and disease control measures.
Demonstration plots for 2,000 hectares have been set up; 1,000 hectares for each crop in various parts of the district.
Major areas include Kunnam, Veppanthattai and Veppur blocks. It has been planned to increase productivity up to 25 quintals in cotton, and 10 tonnes for maize, said Darez Ahamed, Collector, after visiting a few demonstration plots in Kunnam block.
The Collector, who interacted with cotton cultivators and maize growers, said the setting up of demonstration plots aimed at popularising various crop protection methods. “Most farmers ignored soil testing process, essential to achieve higher productivity. Priority is given to soil testing and corrective measures to suit the condition of soil,” he said.
As for maize, he said pest attack posed a problem to farmers. So, experts from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Valindakaapuram and Cotton Research Station in Veppanthattai have been keeping a sustained follow-up on the crops being raised on the demonstration plots.
The Collector said special back-end subsidy were being supplied to farmers under the National Food Security Mission at the rate of Rs. 4,000 per hectare for maize and Rs. 7,500 per hectare for cotton and urged farmers to take advantage of the same. The objective of the programme was to increase productivity of the crops.
