DINDIGUL
The auger method, a simple and innovative irrigation technique to protect coconut trees by rejuvenating their roots with continuous water supply, has been introduced to farmers here. This method will also help reduce the water required for irrigation.
Introducing the technique to the farmers at Silvarpatti in Reddiyarchatram block on Saturday, Collector T.G. Vinay said this technique, the brainchild of Commissioner for Revenue Administration K. Satyagopal, could also be adopted for protecting neem and pungan trees that provided oil and natural manure and for fruit-bearing trees.
Explaining the technique to a section of coconut growers, Joint Director of Agriculture M. Thangasamy said three-foot-deep holes should be created on four sides of the tree. An eight-inch diameter pipe should be inserted into each hole, and one third of the hole should be filled with farm manure and the rest with river sand. It would hold water and release it to roots slowly.
This technique would ensure plant growth and good yield. Besides, it would protect coconut trees from eriophyid mite attack. This technique would retain soil moisture in root zone, he added.
Besides, Agriculture Department had started expanding area under neem plantation and oil seed-producing trees under National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP) to increase production and productivity of oilseeds by covering fallow lands. About 22 hectares of land would be brought under oil seed trees this year.
Subsidy would be offered to each farmer to grow pungan trees. For drip irrigation, 100% subsidy would be given to small and marginal farmers and 75% for other farmers. Neem kernel could be used for oil extraction and making cakes to control pests and diseases. Demand for organic manure would go up sharply in the future, he noted.
The farmers appealed to the government to supply the augering machine with subsidy for quick implementation of the scheme as manual digging would be time-consuming and costly.
For one litre petrol, the machine could make 200 holes. With acute labour shortage, the machine was very important, said Vellaisamy of Silvarpatti village.
More than 50 coconut growers took part.