Date:08/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/08/stories/2009010850530300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Erode

Cultivation of pulses to receive a fillip in Erode

Karthik Madhavan

Part of efforts being taken to maximise crop productivity

PHOTO: M. GOVARTHAN

Increasing productivity: The focus will be on pulses and fodder pulses under dryland development scheme in Erode. —

ERODE: Agriculture Department, Erode, will soon promote pulses and fodder pulses cultivation under the dry land development and maximising crop productivity component of National Agriculture Development Programme.

In four of the 20 blocks in the district, the Department will have farmers’ clusters which will promote cultivation of cholam, maize, ragi and samai on 150 hectares a block.

Joint Director of Agriculture, Erode, V. Kandasamy says the Department will implement the scheme on 600 ha in Nambiyur, Bhavani Sagar, Thalavady and Anthiyur blocks in the district.

In implementing the project, Agriculture Engineering and Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, Coimbatore, will partner the Department.

The three together will popularise high-yielding varieties, implement management technologies, take up moisture conservation activities, introduce modernisation and post-harvest management techniques, besides training the farmers.

An Agriculture Engineering Department officer says under the moisture conservation activities, the Department will help farmers construct compartmental bunds and farm ponds for conserving moisture.

In a block, there will be seven such ponds, the officer says and adds that for carrying out the work, the Department will provide Rs. 50,000.

In addition to the moisture conservation activities, the Engineering Department will also equip farmers with chisel ploughs, broad bed furrows, mounted seed drill and other equipment.

In all, the departments will provide assistance of Rs. 3,750 a hectare a farmer, which is 50 per cent of the total cultivation cost a hectare.

The Joint Director says the Department will interact with the farmers’ group to know and understand their needs, which will be addressed in next year’s budget.

The farmers in the cluster will get marketing support as well, which will be looked after by Agriculture Marketing Department.

At present the Department is engaged in identifying the beneficiary farmers for cluster formation.

The distribution of seeds and farm implements will begin once the pulses cultivation starts, which is expected to be in June-July 2009.

Agriculture experts, commenting on the scheme the Department should first understand farmers’ need and then devise the scheme, as the local requirements may be different from what the department is addressing, as in this case trying to give implements that may not be required in the first place.

Requesting anonymity they further say that the Department has to show innovation in methodology and process in implementing the scheme, the purpose behind which is to promote pulses cultivation among farmers.