At a time when Tamil Nadu is hoping to make a record grain production, it has bagged the Krishi Karman Award of the Union government for its performance in pulses production during 2013-2014.
Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh informed Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and Agriculture Minister Agri S.S. Krishnamoorthy of this in separate letters last week. He also invited the Chief Minister to receive the award at a function to be held in New Delhi.
The award carries a trophy, a citation and a cash prize of Rs. 2 crore.
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During 2013-2014, the production of pulses was 5 lakh tonnes with the productivity of 576 kg per hectare. The figures for 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 were 3.69 lakh tonnes (about 552 kg) and 2.13 lakh tonnes (417 kg). This year, the State has planned to produce eight lakh tonnes.
In recent years, the State has been focussing on increasing the production of pulses.
Among the initiatives taken by the Agriculture Department are the System of Pulses Intensification (SPI), redgram transplantation coupled with micro-nutrients and raising rice-fallow pulses with improved practices. Under the SPI, a ‘whole village approach’ is put into practice, both for irrigated and rain-fed areas, to enhance productivity. Last year, 1.1 lakh hectares in 1,700 villages were brought under the SPI. Taking its cue from Bellary in Karnataka and the central parts of the country, Tamil Nadu adopted redgram transplantation last year, covering 49,000 hectares.
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Agriculture Director M. Rajendran attributed the fall in production during 2012-2013 to the drought.
He said sustained technological interventions were among the reasons for the record production in 2013-2014.