Minister asks paddy farmers to cultivate vegetables

Tiruchirapalli, Aug 21 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister Veerapandi Arumugham today called upon the peasants, especially paddy farmers in the Cauvery Delta districts to go in for cultivation of vegetables.

Speaking at the Community nursery farmers gathering in Tiruvalarcholai, near here, he said both soil and water were quite satisfactory in the state compared to developed countries.

The farming community, instead of sticking to paddy cultivation only should ponder over growing other crops that required less water, he said adding that farmers should adopt modern techniques for agricultural operations for which the state government was ready to provide assistance.

Asking the farmers to come forward to produce bio-fertilisers, he said the peasants could approach Tamil Nadu Agricultral University (TNAU) for marketting the bio-fertilisers.

Mr Arunmugham, accompanied by District Collector A Vachani and other officials visited Uthamarcille and Kilikoodu to inspect the damaged crops.

The Minister told the farmers to approach the district administration for availing the compensation extended by the government for damaged crops.

UNI