Date:19/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/19/stories/2008071957800300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Adopt SRI technique: Pudukottai Collector

Staff Reporter

PUDUKOTTAI: Farmers should adopt the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) technique for maximum utilisation of water and achieving higher yield, Collector Reeta Harish Thakkar said.

Presiding over the ‘Farmers Grievances Day’ meeting here on Friday, she explained the advantages of SRI in terms of economy in both cultivation cost and utilisation of irrigational waters.

The Collector said that under the ‘Irrigated Agriculture Modernisation and Water Resources Management’ (IAMWARM) programme, demonstration plots would be set up in parts of the district to motivate the farmers in groundnut, maize and pulses cultivation.

Seed stock adequate

Referring to farmers’ pleas, the Collector said that adequate seeds had been stocked at all the agricultural extension centres in the district.

About 130 tonnes of paddy seed, 15 tonnes of pulses and 25 tonnes of oil seeds had been stocked. This apart, 1,200 tonnes of DAP had been moved to the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks.

The Collector said that action was being taken on the petitions received from farmers by the Revenue Divisional Officers at Pudukottai and Aranthangi.

Debt-waiver

Every nationalised bank had nominated special officers to redress the grievances of farmers and attend to their complaints over the debt-waiver scheme.