Cluster model approach to boost sustained dry-land agriculture

In a press release, the government said that a cluster model would be adopted under the scheme. Each cluster would be formed on 1,000 hectares of rain-fed land aggregated from one or two village panchayats. Ultimately, 1,000 clusters, covering 25 lakh acres of dry-land in the state, would be formed over a period of four years. 

In the current year, 200 clusters would be formed in 25 districts. Land development activities, establishing water harvesting structures and finalising crops suitable for the cluster would be decided by the Cluster Development Team (CDT) after consultations with the farmers’ clubs.

Grains and millets would be cultivated in 2.15 lakh acres. Pulses would be cultivated in 2.12 lakh acres, oil seeds in 42,500 acres, and cotton in 30,000 acres, under this scheme and each acre covered would get a subsidy of Rs 500. 

Seeds and manure would be provided with a subsidy of 50 per cent in the cost. Further, the machinery required for value addition would also be provided. The unemployed rural youth would be given 80 % subsidy to start Custom Hiring Centre (CHS) and a total of 200 CHS would be set up with one each in a cluster. 

Technical training for officials, who are executing the scheme, would be imparted to ensure success of the scheme and as many as 125 personnel with 5 from each of 25 districts would be given training. In the first phase, the training would be given to 40 officials from eight districts. 

Duraikannu also released a handbook on crop management during the inauguration of the scheme.