World Bank team checks progress of projects

A World Bank team recently visited the district to ascertain the progress of the Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernisation and Water Bodies Restoration and Management project being implemented using its funds.

The visiting team headed by Edward Cook, task team leader (senior land administration specialist), and Paul Singh Sidhu, agriculture specialist visited project sites.

The team visited Koneripalli, where vegetable cultivation is being carried out through precision farming; the marketing collection centre at Kaman Thotty village; and the single window information and knowledge centre at Pillai Puthur village.

The team visited Pathakotta village where paddy cultivation is being carried out under the System of Rice Intensification method, and floriculture through drip irrigation.

The project started in 2008 with the objective of ‘high productivity from a drop of water’ is jointly implemented by departments of agriculture, horticulture, agricultural engineering, animal husbandry, Water Resources Organisation, fisheries, agricultural marketing, and the Tamil Nadu Agriculture University.

Focus

The focus will be on paddy cultivation under SRI, horticulture through precision farming; drip irrigation under agricultural engineering; aquaculture under fisheries; fodder development and artificial insemination under animal husbandry; product collection centres under agriculture marketing; crop demonstrations and training through farmers clubs, and micro irrigation under the TNAU; and water budgeting under the Water Resources Organisation. Though the project was scheduled for completion last year, it has been extended up to June 2015.