Tamil Nadu farmers will be taken on a study tour to countries which are well developed in horticultural crop production to learn new technologies.
Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa announced this while making a suo motu statement in the Assembly.
Announcing a host of schemes for the agriculture sector, she also said that 10,000 farmers will be taken to other states to learn new techniques.
"Countries, including Israel, get a higher crop yield by following advanced scientific technologies. To enable Tamil Nadu farmers learn several technologies like improving quality of produce, economical and efficient water use, 100 top farmers will be taken on a study tour to countries well developed in horticultural crop production. Similarly, 10,000 farmers will be taken to other states to learn technologies followed there," she said.
Stating that her regime has been focused in implementing a farm mechanisation plan, she said subsidy will be provided for farm equipment in the current year as well.
Subsidy of Rs 80 crore will be provided to farmers to buy equipment, including 761 paddy planting implements, 938 power tillers, 201 tractors, 370 plough, 1,231 power weed removers, 355 multi-type crop implements, 505 chaff cutters, 55 specialised self-propelled machinery, 101 coconut frond choppers, 120 sprinklers, 15 groundnut pod strippers, 67 brush cutters, 372 gender-friendly equipment.
To aid farmers implement modern technology, field demonstrations will be made in 3.25 lakh acres of land and Rs. 65.30 crore will be spent for it and government farms would be upgraded as model farms and for the purpose Rs.15 crore will be allocated, she said.
