Tamil Nadu will take steps to achieve a foodgrain production of 115 lakh tonnes from about 42 lakh ha in 2011-12, according to an official press release.
At a review meeting of the Agriculture Department, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms J. Jayalalithaa, urged the officials to ensure that farmers fully utilise the opportunity provided by the timely release of water from the various irrigation reservoirs to achieve a crop cover of 3.2 lakh ha in the ongoing season.
At the meeting the emphasis was on application of modern technology, strengthening infrastructure and supporting farmers to enhance output and augment their income.
The focus will be on increasing the production and productivity of all the main crops in the State, including paddy, sugarcane, cotton, pulses and oilseeds. Farmers will be encouraged to take up SRI (System of Rice Intensification) in over 9 lakh ha; agriculture cooperatives and agri engineering departments will support mechanisation of cultivation by renting the equipment at reasonable prices.
High density cultivation of mango, banana and cashew will be taken up in over 5,000 ha; amla and lemon crop coverage will target about 1,700 ha; and sustainable sugarcane initiative would be taken over 4,000 ha. Cultivation of pulses as a separate crop will also be encouraged.
Information technology tools will be utilised to disseminate information to the farmers, the release said.