A plea to agricultural scientists to undertake research to develop drought-resistant and water-saving varieties of paddy, sugarcane and groundnut in view of the chronic water scarcity in Vellore district due to the poor rainfall for the last 10 to 15 years was made by M. Kalaiarasu, Anaicut MLA on Thursday.
Handbook released
M. Kalaiarasu who released a handbook on sugarcane cultivation and food processing at the Pre-Kharif Mela organized jointly by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) and the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) at the TNAU Research Centre in Virinjipuram near here said that the monsoon failure has resulted in the drying up of the Palar, Ponnai and Goundanya Rivers, the 420 PWD irrigation tanks, 935 minor irrigation tanks, 99,977 wells, lakes and other bodies, leading to a rapid depletion of the groundwater table over the last one-and-a-half decade. Farmers who used to get water at a depth of 300 feet while drilling a deep borewell about 10 to 15 years ago, could not get water even at a depth of 1000 feet now. The TNAU should also do research on improving the soil health, he said.
The MLA wanted the government and the TNAU to teach the farmers the techniques for protecting their crops from damage by wild animals.
Farmers should be trained on post-harvest technology and encouraged to insure their crops against drought and other damages. Unfortunately, the farmers were not aware of the crop insurance schemes, he said.
Bio-repellant against wild boar
M. Pandiyan, Professor and Head of the TNAU Research Centre, Vellore said that the TNAU Research Centre in Virinjipuram is currently engaged in research on the development of a bio-repellant to keep away wild boar from the agricultural fields. The bio-repellant is likely to be released and introduced for commercial use by farmers before the kharif season next year.
Boxes containing the bio-repellant have to be placed within a gap of 10 feet at the rate of 90 boxes per acre on the borders of the agricultural fields. The smell of the bio-repellant will keep away wild boar from entering the fields. In the light of the wild boar menace plaguing the farmers of Vellore district, the bio-repellant would be a boon to the farmers when it is ready, he said.
P. Karthiyayini, Mayor of Vellore appealed to the farmers to plant more trees and increase the vegetative cover in order to induce rains. She appealed to the officials of the agriculture department to provide timely advice to farmers on the application of fertilizers, sowing of seeds and cultivation techniques.
Identifying edible greens
They should also advise farmers on identification of edible greens among the weeds and cultivate them as inter-crop and increase their income.
R. Jayasundar, Joint Director of Agriculture, S. Joshua Davidson, Project Coordinator of the KVK, Sooryakala, chairperson of Anaicut panchayat union and Ranjitha Anandaraj, chairperson of Vellore panchayat union spoke.
We are developing bio-repellant to keep away wild boar, says Head of TNAU Research Centre
