Farmers of Pachamalai being exposed to water-saving micro irrigation technique in their mango and cashew fields. Picture shows one of the fields with micro irrigation technique.— Photo: B.Velankanni Raj
Tribal farmers on Pachamalai hills are being exposed to water saving techniques for cultivation of horticultural crops in their fields under the National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (NABARD)-funded WADI Tribal Development Scheme being implemented in Tiruchi and Salem districts of the hills.
The farmers have hitherto been adopting excessive use of irrigation techniques, unaware of economy in the use of water. But, the WADI scheme has brought about a change in their irrigation technique.
Under the project, 16 villages in Tiruchi district -- Puthur, Karuvankadu, Kambur, Somathe, N.Pudhur, Periyachattur, Boothakal, Keelkkarai, Topsengattupatti, Gundakudi, Seambur, Lakshmanapuram, Natchilapatti, Thaneerpallam, Perumparapu and Kanappadi and 25 villages in Salem district -- Kodungal, Mayampadi, Neyvasal, Palamarathur, Sethagam, Semperi, Malangadu, Mullikulam, Vellerikaduu, Punavari, Vengamudi, Periyampakkalam, Palaiyur, Chinnapakkalam, Odaikattuputhur, Melvanjarai, Naduvanjarai, Thalvanjarai, Odaokadu, Mailakulam, Periamangalam, chinnanagoor, Periyyanagoor, Nallamathi and Chinnamangalam are being covered.
The entire plan is being executed at an estimate of Rs. 6.99 crore with a grant of Rs. 5.85 crore from NABARD and a contribution of Rs.1.14 crore by the beneficiaries in the form of labour, according to S. Suresh Kumar, Assistant General Manager, NABARD, Tiruchi.
The farmers are being exposed to micro irrigation technique in setting up their fruit orchards. In all, 1,312 acres have been developed --- 712 acres in Tiruchi and 610 acres in Salem district.
A small tin with five litres of water has a small opening at its base and is placed close to the roots of the plants. Water from the tin keeps oozing through a piece of cloth fitted in the hole ensuring economy in irrigation water. Further, it would supply water to the roots without any wastage all through the day.
It has gone down well with the tribal farmers who have brought 520 acres in ‘imam pasanth’, ‘pangana palli’, Bangalura and Alphonsa varieties in mango and VRI-3 in cashew variety. Water tanks had been constructed close to the orchards so that either rainwater or irrigation water could be stored in it and used through the iron tins.
Farmers are being trained to grow silver oak tree in their fields although the micro irrigation technique does not apply to raising silver oak trees.

Source : The Hindu