Date:06/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/06/stories/2008030650840300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Tuticorin

Kisan mela to popularise dry land farming technologies

Staff Reporter

“Introduction of mechanisation can help farmers to overcome labour shortage”

Tuticorin: The Agricultural Research Station (ARS), Kovilpatti, conducted a ‘Kisan mela’ on its premises on Wednesday, to popularise dry land farming technologies.

P. Vivekanandan, Dean, Agriculture College and Research Institute, Killikulam, in his inaugural address emphasised the need for introduction of farm mechanisation to overcome the severe labour shortage faced in the sector.

He said that the per capita production of maize had outnumbered that of cotton in the district owing to quick off take of maize grains by poultry feed manufacturers.

Joint Director of Agriculture (Tirunelveli) S. Veluchamy, Deputy Directors of Agriculture, M. Mohanados, C. Gandhirajan, and Chief Scientist of ARS V. Subramanian, were present. About 400 farmers from Tuticorin and Tirunelveli attended.