Neo irrigation tools, subsidies & schemes sweet surprise for ryots
TIRUCHY: The agri expo was an eye-opener for many farmers as they were enlightened with details of schemes, subsidies, apart from imparting knowledge on methods of irrigation.
There were also displays on the traditional way of recharging groundwater. Drip irrigation can be availed by the farmers who cultivate vegetables and other horticulture crops and avail subsidy, said agri officials. “A farmer who cultivates vegetables in one acre of land is given a 50 percent subsidy. They can spend Rs 20,000 and avail the remaining 20,000 as subsidy. The drip irrigation system would be fixed within seven days, which will boost the yield and conserve water,” official from a private irrigation system firm said.
Farmers who had fixed the drip irrigation seven years back are also eligible to replace them. “They need to produce a photocopy of their Aadhaar card, ration card, chitta, certificate from revenue department, bank passbook and land document to avail the benefit,” the official said.
The drip irrigation would increase 30 to 50 percent more yield, reducing the labour and controlling expenditure and ensuring healthy growth of crops. Meanwhile, the officials displayed traditional ways of recharging the groundwater, a knowledge lost over the years. They explained to the farmers that such methods could be utilised if ground water level is poor in their locality.
“This is a cost saving method and ensures availability of water almost all through the year. This boosts the farmers to take up cultivation in the rain fed regions,” the official said.