New farming technique shows growth

Chennai

A government-run excellence centre has achieved a milestone in vegetable production using Israeli technological assistance. Israel is at the forefront of the world in growing vegetables, where they have shown how to achieve maximum yield with limited land and water resources. The Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa is keen that TN farming community learns how to replicate Israel’s model of prosperity. The aim is to double the production and earn three-fold profits.

Success story
The Reddiarchattiram excellence centre sprawls over 13 acres of land that has been given over to cultivating a variety of vegetables with the help of Israeli technology. Farmers have learnt to adapt to green house cultivation, incorporate the use of insect proof netting and poly house and open farming patterns through training and demonstration.
A 2-acre pilot project was carried out to experiment with the technology with help from two Israeli experts and other officials. Profits to the tune of Rs 9 lakh resulted from produce that had come from merely 2 acres of land, using sophisticated technology. It is therefore being said that farmers can earn up to Rs 10-20 lakh by employing these methods.
Israeli Deputy Consul Dov Segel Steinberg appreciated the efforts put in when he visited the farm in person. “This experiment has successfully proven that Israeli technology can help achieve more production,” he said. The next two months will be devoted to improving the yield from the remaining 7 acres of land through use of the same technology. The Chief Minister has asked for vegetable farmers across Tamil Nadu to be brought to the farm to be trained and given a demonstration.

Two farms set up
To realise this goal, two farms have been set up at Dindigul and Krishnagiri with Israeli aid. The Dindigul Reddiarchattiram plant has all the sophisticated technology; Thali at Krishnagiri is engaged in flower production. The government has sought for two more such farms to be set up, one in Ooty where vegetables native to a hilly region can be grown, and another in Trichy which could specialise in plantains and other fruit.

What is green house cultivation?
This involves covering the land with a polythene-like material, creating a green house and conducting heat and fertilisers through pipes to create an artificial environment for vegetables to grow.