CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday announced a new scheme — Sustained Modern Sugarcane Production Scheme (SMSP) — for increasing sugarcane production in the State and allocated Rs 12.93 crore towards this. A total of 7,500 acres will be covered under the new scheme this year. By implementing the SMSP, length and thickness of the cane can be increased.The new scheme incorporates Shade Net Nursery technique and Drip Irrigation system along with training for farmers. For buying sugarcane boosters, a subsidy of Rs 10,000 per acre will be given to the farmers. For installing drip irrigation facility, small and marginal farmers will get 100 per cent subsidy, while other farmers will get 75 per cent subsidy.Quantum of water for irrigation can be reduced under the SMSP. Sugarcane seedlings necessary for 7,500 acres will be produced using 1,000 shade net nurseries by the cooperative and private sugar mills. The State government will spend Rs 5 crore towards this.Extensive training will be provided to the farmers for implementing precision farming and shade net nurseries by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. Also the views of farmers who participate in the training programme will be published in the form of a booklet and distributed to all farmers.Sugar mills in Tamil Nadu play a vital role in rural development.Nearly 3.50 lakh farmers cultivate sugarcane. Around 385 lakh MT of sugarcane is produced yearly. In order to improve productivity and reduce the cost of cultivation, the State government is implementing schemes like drip fertigation, precision farming, tissue culture etc.
Comments
0 comment