AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT DHARMAPURI DISTRICT Honorable Chief Minister of Tamilnadu has fixed an ambitious target of 115 MT Food Production for the state. For our District the food grain production is fixed at 2.71 L.MT for the year 2011-12. To achieve the food production target various schemes are being implemented for the benefits of the farmers. The highlights of the schemes implemented in Dharmapuri district is furnished below; 1. SYSTEM OF RICE INTENSIFICATION The SRI cultivation introduced in paddy has been proved to increase the productivity upto 30%. During 2011-2012, out of targeted area of 0.240 L.Ha. under paddy cultivation, it is programmed to adopt SRI technology in an extent of 0.15 L.Ha. with a targeted production 0.962 L.M.T. of Rice. So far 0.148 L.Ha of Paddy area is covered, out of which SRI area alone accounts for 0.073 L.Ha with an average expected productivity of 4650 Kg of Rice from the present level of 4420 Kg. Remaining area under SRI will be covered in the ensuing Season. The district target is disaggregated to all the field functionaries of 8 blocks and everyone is motivated to achieve the target without any shortfall. TECHNOLOGIES IN SRI Perfect adoption of SRI requires 11 technologies to obtain the desired paddy productivity level of about 7 tonnes per ha. The salient technologies to be adopted are:- 5 kg. seed rate per ha in raised bed nursery, laser leveling of main field, use of 14 days old single seedlings, use of markers/rope for square planting, use of conoweeders, use of Leaf Colour Chart for Nitrogen application, irrigating the field by alternate wetting and drying.
2 ACTION TAKEN TO ACHIEVE THE TARGET DURING 2011-2012 The farmers have been encouraged to adopt SRI Technology by way of conducting demonstrations with various subsidy schemes by adopting whole SRI village concept is introduced in 34 villages in all the 8 Blocks of the District. In the current year 2011-2012 it has been programmed to cover under NADP scheme 600 demonstrations with financial outlay of Rs. 18.0 lakhs, under ATMA 8 nos. of demonstration at an outlay of Rs. 0.32 lakh, under IAMWARM 15 Nos. of of demonstration at an outlay of Rs.1.35 lakhs. A total of 623 demonstrations will be laid in SRI with a financial outlay of Rs. 19.67 lakhs. For the current year, it has been programmed to supply 30 No. of Power weeders to distribute the same to the group of SRI beneficiaries. To encourage the participation of Farmers - District level, Block level and Village Level awareness programmes and Field days were organized. REQUIREMENTS TO STRTENGTHEN THE SCHEME:- To intensify SRI Conoweeders may be distributed at free of cost to the all the SRI Paddy growing farmers. In SRI technology square planting is one important technology. Hence, a training to impart technical knowledge on square planting to Farm Women labourers may be organized. Based on practical feasibility wherever the usage of marker is not possible Conoweeders may be distributed. 2. PULSES PRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT In Dharmapuri District, the normal area of Pulses is 0.60 L.Ha. Among the pulses Horsegram occupies major area to the tune of more than 50% of pulses grown area. During 2011-2012 with the impact of National Food Security Mission (Pulses), IAMWARM and National Agricultural Development Programme, awareness and emphasis has been created and an area of 0.358 L.Ha. has been so far covered as against the Target of 0.760 L.Ha. The remaining pulses area will be covered in
3 the ensuing Rabi season. an average Productivity of 630 Kg per ha. The Production target has been fixed at 0.49 L.MT with ACTION TAKEN TO ACHIEVE THE TARGET FOR 2011-2012 To disseminate the technologies for enhancing Pulses Productivity System of Pulses Intensification is introduced in 39 villages in all the 8 Blocks of this District. The Technologies such as usage of Season specific Certified Seeds, Bio fertilizer treatment, Maintenance of optimum population, Integrated Nutrient Management, Integrated Pest Management, Application of 2% DAP at flowering stage and Usage of Sprinklers to enhance production is fed to the farmers by way of trainings and providing subsidized critical inputs 80 Nos. of IPM demonstration under National Food Security Mission (PULSES) Programme and under NADP, 1146 Nos. of one Ha. Red gram Demonstrations, 1000 Ha Black gram Demonstration under Accelerated Pulses Production Programme, 500 Ha Horsegram under Rainfed Area Development Programme, 2% DAP Foliar Spray for 18370 Ha, Distribution of Raingun and Mobile Sprinklers 100 No for providing moisture at critical crop stages, and under IAMWARM Project 45 Pulses Demonstration are being implemented throughout the District with an outlay of Rs. 179.742 Lakhs. SEED VILLAGE SCHEME:- Seed Villlage is being implemented to make available quality farm saved seeds by farmers themselves. To produce the quality seeds farmers are trained on quality seed production techniques under this scheme. Farmers are encouraged to produce quality seeds by giving 50% subsidy on seed distribution of Paddy, Millets, Pulses and Oilseeds of 370 MT. Under these scheme during 2011-2012, seed distribution and Farmers Training will be implemented with an outlay of Rs.121.00 lakhs
4 SOIL HEALTH MANAGEMENT: Honorable Chief Minister of TamilNadu has emphasized to double the production and Income of the farmers within a span of three years. To achieve this goal soil health management is prioritized. Out of 1.76 Lakh Small and Marginal Farmers 59500 Soil samples will be collected and analyzed for Macro and Micronutrient Recommendation during this year. These data are being uploaded in the website as well as in the Farmers Integrated Hand Book which is being prepared now. Farmers Integrated Hand Book will be provided to all the farmers in a phased manner which will pave way to avail all the benefits of the Department of Agriculture and allied sectors with in a span of three years. So far 13562 soil samples were collected and analysed for both Macro and Micronutrients. SUSTAINABLE SUGARCANE INITIATIVE:- It s a new innovative method of Sugarcane Cultivation where in sugarcane bud chips are developed as seedlings in portrays. Such single Seedlings will be transplanted in the main field. In this method integrated nutrient management and crop management practices are encouraged for an assured and increased yield. The seed cost is very well reduced and water requirement will be provided on need basis by micro irrigation. Further the tillering and individual cane weight will be higher and it increases the yield by 30% of present production level. Intercropping of pulses is possible which will fetch additional income to the farmers. To popularize this method of cultivation under National Agricultural Development Programme subsidy to the tune of Rs.100.30 Lakh is allotted to cover 400 Ha of sugarcane under precision farming through Harur and Palacode Cooperative Sugarmills. RAINFED AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME In Dharmapuri 70% area is under Rainfed Cultivation. To improve and increase the area and productivity various programme are being implemented. To enhance the pulses productivity 2% DAP foliar spraying of fertilizer is advocated in
5 an area of 18370 Ha with a subsidy of Rs. 45.925 Lakhs. Gypsum under subsidized rate is also distributed to the tune of Rs.11.25 Lakhs. To increase Groundnut productivity. Moreover two special programmes are also implemented as stated below; A) INITIATIVE FOR NUTRITIONAL SECURITY THROUGH INTENSIVE MILLETS PROMOTION:- Under NADP Programme it s a new venture to give importance and encourage Nutritious minor Millets growing Farmers to go in for minor Millets cultivation and also to ensure food security. Samai crop demonstrations of 3,520 Nos. were organized in all the 8 Blocks of this District by providing Rs. 2,000/- per Ha. as subsidy towards critical inputs. Further, for the production of 20 M.T. of Ragi Seeds seed production subsidy of Rs. 2,00,000 will be given to the Ragi seed producers at the rate of Rs. 10/- per Kg. under this programme. Farmers Training Rs.47.68 is provided and in total a sum of Rs. 120.83 Lakhs is provided under this programme. B) RAINFED AREA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME:- In order to increase the productivity of rainfed crops Rainfed Area Development Programme is being implemented under NADP scheme in an area of 500 Ha. in Dharmapuri, Nallampalli, Palacode, Karimangalam and Pennagaram Blocks. Here the cropping pattern of Groundnut followed by Horsegram is practiced. To these Beneficiaries inputs under 25% subsidy limited to Rs.7.500/- is provided. for the purchase of critical inputs. Now the 1 st crop Groundnut harvest is over and 2 nd crop Horsegram sowing has been taken up. For both the Crops 100% Crop Insurance subsidy is being sponsored by this programme. Further organizing Vermi- Composting Units and arrangement and procurement of Oilseeds and Pulses are also a part of this Scheme and in total a sum of Rs. 68.71 Lakhs is provided under this programme.
6 Moreover as a pilot project to double the productivity of Horse gram in Dharmapuri District for the first time in association with the principle Scientist and research scholars of International Crop Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad to give technical advise to double the production. Farmers of Meduhalli village in Karimangalam Block has come forward to follow the scientific method of cultivation in 50 Ha Cluster area to double their production and income. The implementation process is in progress and are being monitored.