While scarcity of pulses and mounting prices of the commodity in the market are causing consternation in the administration, there is good news from districts. At least 5,218 hectares have been covered under pulse cultivation in Madurai district alone. Agriculture department officials have set a target of 9,700 tonnes of pulses production in the current season in the district. Officials feel the prices would fall once harvest begins.
Scarcity of pulses in the market came up for discussion at the farmers' grievance redressal meeting at the collectorate here and many farmers urged the administration to encourage cultivation of pulses. Farmers' leader M Pandian said a push to pulse cultivation could benefit both farmers and consumers.
Addressing farmers, district collector L Subramanian said the National Food Security Mission (NSFM) had shortlisted Madurai district to promote pulse cultivation in the state. It was progressing well, he said. So far, rain has been favourable in the month of October. He urged the farming community to enrich their knowledge about pulse cultivation and also avail government assistance.
NSFM consultant S Radhakrishnan said the organisation was promoting cluster demonstration method in pulse cultivation in the district. Farmers from blocks like Thirumangalam, Kallikudi, Kallupatti, Chellampatti, Sedapatti and Usilampatti are encouraged to cultivate pulses like green and black gram (urad dal) under cluster demonstration. They have covered 1,200 hectares under this method - 400 hectares each for green gram, black gram and green gram as intercrop in cotton - and nearly half of the targeted area was covered at present. Sowing of pulses as intercrop in cotton field would start next month, he said.
Farmers under cluster demonstration are given subsidies on seeds, seed treatment chemicals, bio-fertilisers and nutrients. "The standing crop is healthy and farmers are anticipating 450 kg of pulses per acre as yield. We can assure that pulse prices, especially urad dal price, will come down once harvesting commences after January", Radhakrishnan said.
Agriculture department officials also said that they have promoted bund farming of pulses especially green gram in paddy fields. Bund farming is a method where farmers cultivating paddy sow grams in the boundaries of paddy fields. During harvest time both paddy and grams mature, enabling farmers to reap double benefits. Out of 9,000 hectares of paddy cultivated for this season, pulses cultivated in the bunds amount to 500 hectares. Thus, green gram production will be bountiful, they said.
During the meeting, the farming community also raised issues like difficulties in getting crop loans for cultivation.
Source Link :<> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/Cultivation-of-pulses-promising-in-Madurai/articleshow/49476472.cms
Image Source :<> http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/multimedia/dynamic/00764/BL29GC4_764652g.jpg
Scarcity of pulses in the market came up for discussion at the farmers' grievance redressal meeting at the collectorate here and many farmers urged the administration to encourage cultivation of pulses. Farmers' leader M Pandian said a push to pulse cultivation could benefit both farmers and consumers.
Addressing farmers, district collector L Subramanian said the National Food Security Mission (NSFM) had shortlisted Madurai district to promote pulse cultivation in the state. It was progressing well, he said. So far, rain has been favourable in the month of October. He urged the farming community to enrich their knowledge about pulse cultivation and also avail government assistance.
NSFM consultant S Radhakrishnan said the organisation was promoting cluster demonstration method in pulse cultivation in the district. Farmers from blocks like Thirumangalam, Kallikudi, Kallupatti, Chellampatti, Sedapatti and Usilampatti are encouraged to cultivate pulses like green and black gram (urad dal) under cluster demonstration. They have covered 1,200 hectares under this method - 400 hectares each for green gram, black gram and green gram as intercrop in cotton - and nearly half of the targeted area was covered at present. Sowing of pulses as intercrop in cotton field would start next month, he said.
Farmers under cluster demonstration are given subsidies on seeds, seed treatment chemicals, bio-fertilisers and nutrients. "The standing crop is healthy and farmers are anticipating 450 kg of pulses per acre as yield. We can assure that pulse prices, especially urad dal price, will come down once harvesting commences after January", Radhakrishnan said.
Agriculture department officials also said that they have promoted bund farming of pulses especially green gram in paddy fields. Bund farming is a method where farmers cultivating paddy sow grams in the boundaries of paddy fields. During harvest time both paddy and grams mature, enabling farmers to reap double benefits. Out of 9,000 hectares of paddy cultivated for this season, pulses cultivated in the bunds amount to 500 hectares. Thus, green gram production will be bountiful, they said.
During the meeting, the farming community also raised issues like difficulties in getting crop loans for cultivation.
Source Link :<> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/Cultivation-of-pulses-promising-in-Madurai/articleshow/49476472.cms
Image Source :<> http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/multimedia/dynamic/00764/BL29GC4_764652g.jpg
Its a good news, this seems to be proper usage of land by cultivating pulses..hope agriculture will optimize maximum land and making good agribusiness grown in India.
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