TN launches scheme to boost cane farming

The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday announced a scheme to boost sugarcane productivity in the state.

Chief minister J Jayalalithaa in a statement said the government would give 100 per cent subsidy to sugarcane farmers opting for drip irrigation and 75 per subsidy to other farmers.

A sum of Rs 12.93 crore has been allocated for cultivation of sugarcane on 7,500 acres under the ‘Sustained Modern Sugarcane Production Scheme’, which aims to increase the length and thickness of the crop.

The scheme involves use of the shade net nursery technique and drip irrigation methods to help farmers get a good harvest using less water.

Farmers taking up drip irrigation will get 100 per cent subsidy from the government for installation of necessary infrastructure, while those opting for other irrigation methods will get 75 per cent subsidy.

Farmers will also get Rs 10,000 for each acre of sugarcane that they grow, which is to be used to buy sugarcane boosters, it said.

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University will train farmers in the technology required for shade net nursery and the inputs from the participants would be published in the form of a booklet for distribution to other farmers, the release said.