Chennai: In another pro-farmer initiative,
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Wednesday announced a
scheme for boosting sugarcane productivity, under which
subsidies totalling Rs 12.93 crore will be provided this year.
A sum of Rs 12.93 crore had been allocated by the Chief
Minister for cultivation of sugarcane in 7,500 acres under the
'Sustained Modern Sugarcane Production Scheme', which aims to
increase the length and thickness of the cane, an official
release said.
The scheme involves use of the shade net nursery
technique and drip irrigation methods to help farmers get a
good harvest using less water, it said.
Seeking to promote better water management, Jayalalithaa
had yesterday announced a subsidy ranging from 75 per cent to
100 per cent for farmers taking up micro irrigation.
Under the scheme, farmers taking up drip irrigation will
get a 100 per cent subsidy from the government for
installation of the necessary infrastructure, while those
opting for other irrigation methods will get a 75 per cent
subsidy.
They would also get Rs 10,000 for each acre of sugarcane
that they grow, which is to be used to buy sugarcane boosters,
it said.
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University will train farmers in
the technology required for shade net nursery and the inputs
from the participants would be published in the form of a
booklet for distribution to other farmers, the release said.
"The new scheme will help farmers increase the length and
weight of the canes," it said.
According to a state government website, sugarcane is the
most important commercial crop grown in the state. Out of the
3,35,397 hectares of area under sugarcane, 63.4 per cent is
planted and 37.6 per cent is ratoon crop.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, November 23, 2011, 13:10