Chennai, May 7 (KNN) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa unveiled a massive Rs 984.70 package to enhance agricultural production, in view of the shrinkage of cultivated land and to ensure that farmers receive a fair price for their produce.
 
On her own initiative, the Chief Minister according to media reports announced separate allocations for different segments of agriculture.   
 
Significant among the announcements was the plan to convert 12,500 acres of dry land in the state into cultivable land.  Towards this, the government would provide Rs 4000 per acre as back-end subsidy and supply inputs at a subsidised rate. 
 
The government also plans to buy 700 rain guns and mobile sprinkles costing Rs 57 crore to ensure effective utilisation of water from farm ponds.  As many as 15,000 farm ponds are currently being dug in delta districts and another 56,000 ponds in other districts.   It is hoped that these ponds would ensure adequate water supply during the dry seasons.
 
The state according to the report will have an express mission mode approach at three levels – village, taluk and district to help increase the cultivation of paddy, millets and cereals. 
 
Further, red gram would be cultivated on 50,000 acres and sugar cane on 50,000 acres.  While Rs 55.60 crore would be spent for drip irrigation to 10,000 acres under red gram cultivation, Rs 275.20 crore would be spent for sugar production.
 
The government also intends to ensure that quality agricultural and horticultural inputs are available to farmers; make efforts to mechanise agricultural operations and purchase farm machines.   
 
Service centres will be set up in 50 taluks to provide counselling on horticultural crop technology.
 
In the pipeline are special commercial complexes for tender coconut in Coimbatore and banana in Tirunelveli.   
 
Also, there would be approach roads for 10 regulated markets and new regulated markets in Bodinayakanur and Muthukalathur.  (KNN)