Farmers given training to produce quality seeds :

Farmers of Thookanaickenpalayam were exposed to the methodology of enhancing yield of paddy and other crops through use of certified seeds, earlier this month.

Under the aegis of Seed Village Scheme, the farmers were initiated into producing quality seeds in their lands for own use and for distribution to other farmers by Agriculture Department, Myrada Krishi Vigyan Kendra and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.

TNAU Assistant Professor Rajavel provided insights into the weather pattern and its impact on productivity, and Assistant Director of Agriculture Chidambaram elaborated on certified seeds while Soil Scientist of Myrada Sekar detailed on nutrient management.

Introduced during May, 2012, the scheme entailing distribution of foundation seeds of paddy, millet, pulses and oilseeds at 50 per cent subsidy on cost of production is valid until the end of 2016.

According to officials, the improving stock of farm-saved seeds will help in enhancing crop productivity. The seed produced in the villages will have to be preserved till the next sowing season.

Forty seed farmers who received training were encouraged to develop storage capacity with promise of assistance for making bins made of mud and paper pulp.

As per the scheme, a project area should receive assistance for a maximum of two years, so that identified farmers could sustain seed production independently.

Topics on seed production technique, isolation distance, sowing practices and other agronomic practices to be followed were handled during the training programme.

The farmers will be imparted two more days of training: the second during flower initiation stage of the seed crop to help them identify off-types and their removal, plant protection and harvesting methods, and the third training will be conducted after harvest at the time of seed processing to throw more light on seed cleaning, grading, storage, packaging, and sending seed sample for testing of germination, officials said.

The farmers of Thookanaickenpalayam were initiated into producing quality seeds in their lands for own use and for distribution to other farmers

Source : The Hindu