Chennai: Making several new announcements for farming and horticulture sectors, the Chief Minister said the government would provide 500 solar-powered pumpsets to farmers in non-delta regions with 90 per cent subsidy at a total cost of Rs 50 crore.
This would be in addition to the 500 pumpsets already provided to farmers in the Cauvery delta region as part of the Kuruvai crop package. The move would facilitate ryots to make use of the abundant solar power generation potential in the state, Mr Palaniswami said. So far, the government has provided 3,112 solar pumpsets and 181 solar panels at a total subsidised cost of '117.24 core across the state under the Solar Energy Policy 2012. The government would provide solar pumpsets with 90 percent subsidy to those giving up free electricity for agriculture.
Aiming to lure more youngsters into farming, the government would introduce 2-year Diploma in Horticulture course in Krishnagiri and Dindigul branch of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, with an in take of 50 students each, Mr Palaniswami said.
