Farmers will get post-harvest technology machines: TN Agriculture Minister

Chennai: As part of an initiative to improve the agriculturists’ prospects, the State government will distribute post-harvest technology and management machinery to farmers, Agriculture Minister R. Duraikannu informed the Assembly on Wednesday.

The machinery, he said would be given to farmers, SHGs, farmers cooperative societies, agricultural producers societies and entrepreneurs at a subsidised price. “To facilitate this, the State government will provide Rs 2 crore,” the Minister said wrapping up the debate on the demand for grants for his department.

He also announced that bio-degradable compost centres would be established at a cost of Rs 5.3 crore at Coimbatore, Madurai and on Killikulam agricultural college campus. Steps would be taken to fill up the posts of 805 assistant horticulture officers across Tamil Nadu.

Further, in an effort to ensure accuracy and comprehensiveness in the testing the quality of seeds, the government would provide modern testing equipents to the seed testing centres across TN, during the current fiscal at a cost of '1crore.
“The government is bestowing adequate attention and maintaining a vigil on the distribution of quality seeds to the farmers. There are 33 seed testing centres across the state to test the quality of seeds produced by government and others,” Duraikannu said.