TNAU's urge for new Tech in Millet cultivation
Scientists should develop a 'special technology package' for millet production, separately for irrigated and rainfed conditions, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Vice Chancellor, Dr C Ramasamy, said.The package should mainly include 'sub-surface mulching' with crop residues which would increase the water use efficiency in terms of moisture conservation and decreasing water percolation, Ramasamy said.Highlighting important issues related to millet and forage production, especially with reference to Tamil Nadu, at a two-day 'annual research meet on millet and forage crops,' he said drip irrigation, fertigation, designer seeds, seed hardening, farm machinery, slow release fertilizers and relate technologies should also be included in the package.On mulching, he said every maize field in China used plastic mulches and therefore its application needed to be explored under rainfed conditions in Tamil Nadu.
Dr B Chandrasekaran, Director of Research in the University said due to thrust given to contract farming, maize production in the State had increased to three lakh hectares, with a production of more than 7.5 lakh tonnes, this year.Dr K Palanisami, Director, Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies, said that the share of millet area of Tamil Nadu in the country was 3.9 per cent and with respect to production 3.86 per cent.
