Farmers evince interest in alternative crops: Collector

A total of 77,705 hectares have been brought under cultivation of various crops in the district, so far, during the current crop season, according to the District Collector V. Dakshinamoorthy.

Paddy transplantation is in progress using special machine in 85 hectares in Pallipalayam, Senthamangalam, Erumapatti, and Namagiripettai blocks. Paddy transplantation using traditional method is in progress in 4,200 hectares in the blocks.

Cotton crop is in harvesting stage in Namagiripettai and Erumapatti blocks, he said, while addressing farmers’ grievances day meeting here recently. Cholam, Makkacholam, Thuvarai and cane, too, are in an advanced stage.

He said that all the primary agricultural cooperative societies, agricultural extension centres, and private concerns in the district possessed adequate stock of seeds, fertilizers etc for supplying to the needy farmers any time.

Of late, the farmers of the district who were depending on the traditional crops have started evincing interest in alternative crops such as pomegranate, onion, vegetables, coriander etc. The Collector called upon the farmers to get all the needed information on the latest cultivation techniques of the alternative crops from the Horticulture Department officials in their respective blocks.

The Horticulture Department has brought out a brochure containing the details of the cultivation techniques of crops such as vegetables, fruits, flowers and the farmers could collect the same from the officials. The Agricultural Engineering Department has proposed to set up integrated agricultural extension centres under National Agricultural Development Scheme in Namakkal, Namagiripettai and Pallipalayam blocks. The centres will have the offices of agriculture, horticulture, agriculture marketing, and agricultural engineering under one roof.

The Agricultural Engineering Department has also proposed to construct integrated agricultural extension centres at Rasipuram, Erumapatti, Mallasamuthiram, and Kollimalai blocks.

The proposals for both the projects have already been submitted to the Chief Engineer, Agricultural Engineering Department, for his nod.

The department has also planned to set up soil testing laboratory and the proposal too has been submitted to the Chief Engineer, he added.