An extent of 90,000 hectares will be brought under ‘samba’ cultivation during the current season and the Agriculture Department officials have taken steps for supplying seedlings, fertiliser and other inputs to farmers without delay.
Avudaiyarkovil and Manamelkudi are the major taluks in the district accounting for a vast area under samba cultivation.
The recent spell of rain had encouraged the farmers to transplant the nurseries but scarcity of farm labourers has been a challenge to them. To tide over the problem, the department has been popularising mechanisation of transplanting of nurseries particularly in and around Nakudi.
It not only minimises labour requirement but also increases productivity, says D. Chandrasekaran, Joint Director of Agriculture.
Out of 90,000 hectares under ‘samba’ cultivation, about 60,000 hectares would be covered under transplanting technique. The department released back-end subsidy of Rs, 3,000 a hectare under the National Agriculture Development Programme and National Food Mission.
There was good response from farmers to mechanical transplanting.
About 152 hectares had been covered so far under the mechanical transplanting and about 60,000 of area would be covered. “It involved minimum or nil wastage of seedlings,” he said. The department was organising awareness campaign in villages for the benefit of farmers.
Collector S. Ganesh inspected the mechanised planting of nurseries at Keezha Panaiyur near Arimalam on Wednesday. Farmers said that the rain had come as a blessing for them.
Parts of the district experienced sharp showers on Tuesday. For the 24 hours ended at 8-30 a.m. on Wednesday, Alangudi recorded a maximum of 74 mm of rain, Aranthangi 59, Tirumayam 50.20, Arimalam 48.20, Ponnamaravathy 36.20, Pudukottai 34, Karaiyur 33.90, Keezhanilai 25, Kudumiyanmalai 14 and Annavasal 13 mm.

Source : The Hindu