Samba paddy cultivation in full swing : Minister

Thanjavur, Aug 22 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister Veerapandi Arumugham said the cultivation of Samba paddy was going on in full swing in Cuddalore district and the Cauvery delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam.

The state government had already provided adequate funds to the Cooperative Central Banks (CCBs) to extend crop loans to farmers, he told newspersons here yesterday.

Stating that there was sufficient stock of seeds and fertilizers with the agriculture department, the minister said the CCBs in the delta districts would provide loans to the tune of Rs 140.69 crore to farmers while the banks would extend Rs 110 crore for crop loans in Cuddalore district this year.

The distribution of loans had commenced, he said adding the cultivation of samba has been taken up in 4.44 lakh hectares in the delta districts this year.

Meanwhile, the Cauvery delta regions were experiencing moderate rains which was beneficial to the standing Kuruvai paddy crops.

UNI