The Department of Agriculture plans to bring more than five lakh acres of cultivable land under direct sowing of paddy during the ongoing samba season to tide over long term water requirement. At the same time, the aim was to produce 125 lakh tonnes of food grains this year and retain the top slot the State had achieved on that score in the last two years.
The State Government aims at increasing the income of the farmers and also hike agricultural production in the current year. The Department’s extension officials must fan out, meet farmers, provide them with the requisite support to achieve the twin aim, Mr. Dakshinamoorthy insisted.
Pointing out that time was fast running out for the officials, the Director of Agriculture set them a deadline of meeting 70% of the task by October end and completing the assignment by November 15, ‘without fail’.
He assured the officials and farmers that there were adequate stocks of agricultural inputs including seeds and fertilizers. Stressing that the State Government’s various departments had acted in tandem to ensure that maximum crop insurance compensation amount was got by the affected farmers in view of the huge loss of crops last year, the Director Agriculture said that 15.32 lakh farmers were enrolled under crop insurance schemes.
While a sum of Rs. 2,262 crore has been targeted as compensation for crop loss, a sum of Rs. 1,550 crore has been allowed as compensation. Of that amount, already Rs. 1,500 crore has been deposited in the individual accounts of the beneficiaries, Mr. Dakshinamoorthy contended.
