Food Production Will Touch 108 Lakh Tonnes
Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam has predicted that food production in the State will touch 108 lakh tonnes in 2008-09. Addressing a State-level farmers’ day meeting at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University here on Wednesday, he said the target this year would surpass last year’s production. “This will be made possible by implementing technologies like precision farming and System of Rice Intensification (SRI). The technologies have to be enhanced by ensuring timely distribution of quality seeds and inputs,” the Minister said.
In 2007-08, nearly 50,000 farmers were trained in SRI on 11,320 hectares. “It has shown good results. In 2008-09, paddy cultivation using SRI is being planned on 7.5 lakh hectares,” the Minister said. He referred to the success stories of farmers who had adopted precision farming in Dharmapuri, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga and Virudhanagar districts. “In 2008-09, 12,800 hectares will be cultivated using this technology at a cost of Rs. 63.68 crore,” he said.
