Date:31/10/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/10/31/stories/2009103150260200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Perambalur

SRI demonstration plots on 125 hectares in two districts

Staff Reporter

World Bank consultant visits fields to assess progress of IAMWARM project

GROUND REALITY: Members of World Bank team interacting with farmers at a field near Perambalur on Wednesday.

PERAMBALUR: With a view to motivating farmers to take to the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) technique, demonstration plots are being set up on 125 hectares in Perambalur and Ariyalur districts during the current season under the World Bank-aided ‘Irrigated Agriculture Modernisation Water Bodies Restoration Management (IAMWARM) programme.

Farmers have been preparing their fields for setting up the plot, in consultation with the Agriculture Department officials.

Second year

The technique is being popularised among the farmers for the second year in the Chinnaur sub-basin of the three-year IAMWARM programme.

A team of representatives for the World Bank-assisted project visited Annamangalam and Sengunam villages where preliminary works associated with the technique, have been taken up.

They also visited Arasalur and Sengunam villages where tissue culture banana is being raised through the Horticulture Department.

Accompanied by Collector, S. Vijayakumar, consultant from the World Bank, Ben O’Brien visited a few fields and saw the progress of the implementation of the IAMWARM project.

Joint Director of Agriculture Somasundaram and Agriculture Consultant Chandramohan explained the impact of the SRI technique on the farming community. Last year, about 50 hectares had been covered under the project.

Mr. O’Brien also held a discussion with the farmers and assessed the benefits of the SRI technique.

While 95 hectares have been covered under the SRI in the Chinnaru sub-basin in Perambalur district, the balance 30 hectares had been brought in Anaivari sub-basin of the Sendurai block in Ariyalur district.