TIRUCHI
Given the good water storage position in major dams in the State and the promising prediction of a normal North-East monsoon, the Agriculture Department is pushing its officers to achieve the target set under the Foodgrain Mission through a bumper harvest this year.
The Department is eyeing a target of 125 lakh tonnes of foodgrain production during the current year. On Friday, Director of Agriculture V.Dakshinamoorthy chaired a meeting with senior officials of the department from Tiruchi, Cuddalore, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Pudukkottai, Ariyalur, Perambalur and Karur to discuss the ways and means to achieve the target.
The Department launched the Foodgrain Mission in 2012-13 with the objective of enhancing yield and increasing the income of the farmers. Thanks to the efforts of the farmers and the department, foodgrain production has increased over the past years in the State, it was pointed out at the meeting.
A block level review was undertaken at the meeting in terms of strategic planning and execution for improving area of coverage under paddy, millets and pulses, converting fallow lands into cultivable lands, stock and distribution position of quality seeds and other agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, bio agents and crop protection Chemicals.
Mr.Dakshinamoorthy urged the officials to ensure that the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) techniques was adopted in at least 80 % of area cultivated this season so as to achieve the targeted productivity in rice. He also directed officials to remain vigilant and initiate steps on a war footing to combat attacks of Fall Armyworm in maize, which is a major contributor to the food grain production in the State. The invasive pest had caused extensive damage to the crop in the State last year and field officers were directed to sensitise farmers on ways to prevent the pest attack. Availability of plant protection and chemicals and the pest management techniques were reviewed at micro level for ensuring the achievement of targeted production.
He instructed the officials to work towards increasing area of coverage under other millets, pulses and oilseeds and attaining maximum productivity by adopting improvised production technologies. Officials were also instructed to ensure that all the area covered under different crops were duly entered in the village revenue records without any omission.
Field officers were asked to ensure time supply of quality seeds and fertilizers for attaining the targeted Food Grain Mission production. Officials should also raise awareness among farmers about the Pradhan Mandri Crop Insurance Scheme and Farmers Pension Scheme.
S.Sivarasu, Collector, Tiruchi, P. Sangaralingam, Additional Director of Agriculture in-charge (Central Scheme) and T.Karthikeyan, Joint Director of Agriculture (State Scheme) also participated in the meeting.