Date:09/06/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/06/09/stories/2003060904370500.htm

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Govt. to introduce `pulses village' in 17 districts: Jeevanandam

By Our Staff Reporter

Nagapattinam JunE. 8. It has been proposed to introduce `pulses village' concept in 17 districts, said the Agriculture Minister, R. Jeevanandam.

Talking to reporters here yesterday, the Minister said though the State's requirement of pulses was around 9 lakh tonnes, around 3 lakh tonnes were produced in the State and therefore it was planned to cultivate pulses in more areas.

Pulse seeds would be distributed to farmers at 50 per cent subsidy and urea at 75 per cent. A farm pond in each village would be created under the scheme. Apart from this a `dhal-processing machine' would be allotted to each village to help farmers produce value-added products.

The new concept would be introduced in Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Tiruvannamalai, Dindigul, Theni, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Karur, Perambalur, Tiruchi, Pudukottai, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts.

Mr. Jeevanandam said farmers having lift irrigation facility have been advised to go in for short-term crops such as ADT 36, ADT 43 and IR 50 during this kuruvai season. Farmers, who depend on river water, were directed to take up alternative crop cultivation.

The Tamil Nadu Agriculture University has submitted a report on using wells, which are currently under disuse.

Thus, in the first phase 50000 wells would be taken up for conversion into a rainwater harvesting facility at a cost of Rs.100 crore.