Virudhunagar
Adequate stock of fertilizers has been kept in Virudhunagar district where 1.04 lakh hectares of farmlands has been planned to bring under cultivation of various crops during the Rabi season, according to Minister for Dairy Development, K.T. Rajenthra Bhalaji.
Addressing a review meeting on agriculture-related progress here on Tuesday, Mr. Bhalaji said that paddy would be cultivated on 25,000 hectares, millets on 45,000 hectares, pulses on 13,000 hectares, cotton on 21,000 hectares during the season.
Private fertilizer shops and primary agricultural cooperative societies have been asked to stock 2,140 tonnes of fertilizers required for the month.
All Cooperative Thrift Societies have been asked to have a minimum stock of 10 tonnes of urea, 10 tonnes of DAP, five tonnes of Pottash and five tonnes of complex.
A total of 48 Farmers Producers’ Groups have been formed during 2017-18 and each group has been given farm equipments worth ₹5 lakh under revolving funds.
Under pisiculture scheme, 3 lakh fingerlings that have been produced at the Government fish farm in Pilavakkal were ready for distribution, he added.
The Minister added that ₹92.31 lakh had been allocated for renovation of farmponds and community fish rearing.
Mr. Bhalaji asked the officials to create awareness among the farmers of the need to insure their paddy crops during samba season.
The Minister said that the work on combined drinking water scheme for Rajapalayam, Sivakasi and Tiruthangal municipalities was under way at a cost of ₹404.04 crore. Water from Tamiraparani river would be sourced at Kondanagaram.
The project of another combined drinking water scheme for Sivakasi, Sattur, Vembakottai and Virudhunagar unions with Tamiarparani water sourced at Sivalaperi had been completed at a cost of ₹ 234 crore. The work for providing electricity supply was under way, he added.
The Minister gave away benefits worth ₹17.48 lakh under various government schemes.
Virudhunagar MP. T. Radhakrishnan, Collector, A. Sivagnanam, Srivilliputtur MLA, M. Chandraprabha, District Revenue Officer, K. Udhayakumar, Project Director, District Rural Development Agency, Suresh, were among those who participated in the meeting.