Farmers’ participatory seed production programme

Udhagamandalam: The foundation day of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) was celebrated by the Regional Station, Indian Agricultural Research Institute at Wellington near here recently.Speaking the occasion, the Principal Scientist and head of the station, R.N. Brahma, said that there was a proposal to launch a farmers’ participatory seed production programme this year. Under the programme the station would supervise the production of seeds by farmers. The seeds would be purchased by the station with a better support price.

Mr. Brahma said that in order to accelerate the crop introduction and diversification process, the station has taken up a large scale breeder seed production programme for the wheat varieties released. It was also conducting regularly front line demonstrations (FLDs) during the rabi season to promote wheat cultivation in non-traditional areas.Senior Scientist M. Sivasamy said that farmers in Tamil Nadu were now exploring the possibility of taking up alternative crops in areas where water was scarce.In tune with this the station, after several years of research has found that wheat was an ideal alternative since it was a short duration crop, required less irrigation and did not require transplanting.

In keeping with this the station, in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) has released a variety HW 3094 for cultivation in non-traditional areas like Theni, Dindigul, Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Vellore, Thiruvanamalai,Villupuram and Thiruvallur.The short duration variety which matures in 90 days was foot rot resistant, thermotolerant and yields 2 to 3 tonnes per hectare.The Senior Scientist, A.J. Prabakaran, said that recently another high yielding wheat variety HD 2833 (Pusa 105) developed at Wellington in collaboration with the Division of Genetics, IARI, New Delhi, has been notified by the Central Varietal Identification and Release Committee for cultivation in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.It could be raised as a mono crop between November and February or as an intercrop with coconut, mango, tapioca and banana.

Agri operation full swing at Kanyakumari district

Nagercoil: Agricultural operations are on in full swing in Kanyakumari district following widespread rain in catchment areas.Farmers in different parts of the district have started preparatory work in the Kannipoov season.The heavy rain that lashed the district for more than a week has helped them in starting the work much earlier than last year.Officials have reopened the dams for the release of water for irrigation.A total of 702 cusecs of water has been released from Pechipparai dam and 125 cusecs from Perunchani dam.

With the release of water from both, the officials have facilitated the flow of 300 cusecs of water in Padmanabhapuram Puthen channel, 475 cusecs in Pandiyankal shutter, 296.10 cusecs in Thovalai channel and 216 cusecs in Nanchinlnadu Puthen channel.The farmers have raised nurseries in over 1,000 hectares of land to transplant it over 10,000 hectares.They have completed transplantation of paddy crops in over 5,290 hectares.The transplanting will be over in 10 days.

101.42 acres land developed

Tirunelvalli:Vermicompost being put in a pit at Urumangulam in Tirunelveli district. A total of 101.42 acres of land in three cluster villages in the district have been developed by the administration to be disbursed to 75 marginal, small and landless farmers in the next few days for planting horticultural crops.

According to sources, lands have been readied at Raavuththapaeri (37 acres for 37 beneficiaries), Venkataampatti of Kadayam block (19.93 acres for 10 beneficiaries) and Urumankulam of Radhapuram block (44.49 acres for 28 beneficiaries).Land development and digging of borewells were done by the Department of Agriculture Engineering followed by formation of irrigation societies by the Department of Agriculture.

The Department of Horticulture took up planting of Amla at Raavuththapaeri and Urumankulam and Mango at Venkataampatti, combined with micro irrigation and fertigation facilities in all cluster villages on an outlay of Rs 13.41 lakh. Horticulture planting activities in these villages were dovetailed under National Horticulture Mission, a lucrative scheme being implemented in the district for the past two years and micro-irrigation schemes, said C. Israel, Assistant Director of Horticulture, Tirunelveli.

K.A. Syed Kader Oli, Deputy Director of Horticulture, Tirunelveli, said that the beneficiaries would start reaping rewards from the third year onwards.S. Raja Mohamed, Horticultural Officer, Radhapuram, demonstrated filling of pits, manuring it with vermicompost and planting amla (NA 7, Kanchan and BSR - 1) grafts produced by State Horticulture Farm, Courtallam.Planting of amla grafts in Urumankulam cluster would be taken up from June 11 with assistance of NSS volunteers of Jesus the Redeemer Higher Secondary School, Thisaiyanvilai. Mass planting of grafts would be carried out subsequently.

Union Budget: TNAU Coimbatore will get Rs.50 Cr

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore will get Rs.50 Crores fund for its developmental projects. This has been announced by the Union Finance Minister Mr.P.Chidambaram, Parliament today during his budget speech.

And also he announced that, World Bank signed agreement for revival of 5,763 water bodies in Tamil Nadu. Loan component Rs 2,182 crores.

We already reported this revival of water bodies in Tamil Nadu news dated on Feb12. Read More

Medicinal plants expo begins today

Chennai: An exhibition of medicinal plants, aesthetic plants and trees and secondary timber will begin at Children's Park, Guindy, on Thursday.

Being organised by the research wing of the Forest department, it is aimed at encouraging people to plant saplings. The exhibition will feature nearly 130 plants and trees.
Among the important items on display will be eight species of bamboo successfully raised by the research wing. These can be grown and commercially exploited in the State, say officials.
As for the secondary timber, authorities say karungali, kumizh, malai vembu, eucalyptus and bamboo can be used instead of traditional and expensive timber species such as teak and rosewood for making furniture and other household articles.

Raising secondary timber on private land will yield an additional income of Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000 to a farmer. The three sections of the exhibition will have an interpreter each.
The exhibition will be open to visitors at the audio-visual hall of Children's Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. till February 28.

World Bank Supports Tamil Nadu in Restoring Traditional Water-bodies

WORLD BANK SUPPORTS TAMIL NADU IN RESTORING TRADITIONAL WATER-BODIES AND IMPROVING IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE AND WATER MANAGEMENT

The Loan/Credit Agreements for the US$ 485 million Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization and Water-Bodies Restoration and Management Project were signed, here toady in the presence of Shri P. Chidambaram, Finance Minister. The signatories were Shri Madhusudan Prasad, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, on behalf of Government of India, Shri S. Rajaretinam, Secretary, Public Works Department, Government of Tamil Nadu and Shri Praful Patel, Regional Vice President, South Asia from the World Bank. Also present on the occasion were both the Ministers of State for Finance Shri S.S. Palanimanickam and Shri P.K. Bansal, Mr Duraimurugan Minister for Public Works, Government of Tamil Nadu, Shri Ashok Jha, Finance Secretary and Shri Dhanendra Kumar, India’s Executive Director in the World Bank.

The Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization and Water-Bodies Restoration and Management Project is designed to modernize irrigation systems covering over 600,000 hectares in 63 selected sub-basins throughout the State. It proposes an integrated sub-basin approach to synergize the activities of multiple agencies involved with irrigation, on-farm development, agriculture, horticulture, marketing, livestock, fisheries, and applied research. Tamil Nadu is home to about 62 million people living in 17 river basins. Many of these basins are water stressed, as supplies are limited and competing demands are growing.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Chidambaram said that, “traditional water bodies have been the backbone of irrigated agriculture in Tamil Nadu from time immemorial. Restoration of these water bodies is a key element in unlocking the potential of agriculture development and improving the livelihoods of the people in the State. An estimated 50,000 jobs are expected to be created on both on-farm and off-farm activities in the project area."

“Maximizing our irrigation potential is also an important element of the Bharat Nirman Program. Similar projects for restoration, repair and rehabilitation of water bodies are being prepared with World Bank assistance for other States.”, added the Minister.

Shri Duraimurugan, Minister for Public Works, Government of Tamil Nadu said that this project will improve irrigation service delivery, achieve additional agricultural production, increase farm income and provide employment opportunities to the rural people of Tamil Nadu.

Shri Praful Patel said, “the project will help improve productivity of water in irrigated agriculture and promote diversification into higher-value, less-water intensive crops. Utilizing the storages available in the tanks and in other systems to maximize productivity of water is the most efficient way to achieve the development aspirations of Tamil Nadu.”

The project will place special focus on modernization of Tanks and strengthening of Water Resources Organization and Water User Associations to improve irrigation service delivery. In addition, the project aims to strengthen the institutional framework and tools for sustainable water resources management. Some of the benefits from the project include increased area and reliability of irrigation, increase in production, productivity, and profitability of foodgrains, oilseeds, pulses, fruits, vegetables, sugarcane, green fodder, milk and fish in inland water bodies. Farm incomes are expected to rise in project area households with the creation of additional jobs.

Of the total amount of US$ 485 million, an amount of US$ 335 million loan is from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and has 20 years to maturity including 5-years of grace period.

The US$ 150 million credit is provided by the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s concessionary lending arm and has 35 years to maturity and a 10-year grace period.

Source:PIB