TN chalks out initiatives to enhance agricultural output

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Government has chalked out a series of major initiatives including adoption of a system of rice intensification technology to enhance agricultural production in the State during 2009-2010.  According to the policy note presented by Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S Arumugam in the Assembly, the state government would take steps to bring 7.5 lakh hectares under the rice intensification system during 2009-2010 and more attention will be given for perfect adoption of this technology to achieve higher production in paddy.  Steps would be taken to conduct demonstrations of rice intensification system, to cover around 50,000 hectares through various schemes.Government has also fixed a target of 60.50 lakh hectare for crop coverage and production during the period.  On availability of quality seeds in 2009-2010, the note said the State Government planned to procure 18,000 MTs of paddy seeds, 450 MTs of Millets, 2,500 MTs of Pulses, 6,386 MTs of oil seeds and 175 MTs of Cotton seeds, which would be distributed to the farmers.
'The long felt demand of the agricultural graduates has been accepted by the government and at all India level, Tamil Nadu is the first state establishing Agri Council. A draft will be placed in the Assembly for approval,' it said.  The Agri Council would provide necessary recommendation for the agriculture development besides it will play a major role in providing quality inputs, technologies, post harvest management, marketing and processing activities