State Seed Farm at Pongalur has been recognised as model farm and technology demonstration centre by the State Government for ensuring timely distribution of quality seeds of various crops produced through good agricultural practices to farmers with an 'extra thrust' on maize crop.
Accordingly with the new status, the facilities at the Pongalur seed farm are going to be enhanced by leaps and bounds in different phases.
Initially, the Department of Agriculture has planned to strengthen the irrigation sources and water management strategies, improve the soil health, provide additional Information Technology (IT) resources and widen the dissemination of technology to farmers at a total project outlay of nearly Rs 22 lakh.
“The expenditure for the development works will be taken from the corpus the created by the Union Government under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana,” Joint Director of Agriculture R. Kanagasabai told The Hindu . During the initial phase of development, drip irrigation facilities will be laid on an area of 15 acres out of the total 39.5 acres of space available on the seed farm premises and one sprinkler will be set up. Apart from this, two wells on the campus will be deepened to increase its storage potential. “We are also going to introduce a 60 HP (horse power) tractor fitted with 'boom spray' that is capable of spraying insecticides, with Rs 8.93 lakh from the total project cost earmarked for the purpose,” said agriculture department officials. Mainly, certified seeds of maize and cholam, and foundation seeds of pulses varieties like green gram and black gram, and oil seeds, apart from few other crops will be raised in the coming days at the Pongalur seed farm.
