The Hindu Business Line : Macro Management of Agriculture schemes get nod

Project details
Centre’s share of the cost is Rs 54.50 cr
Agri department to get lion’s share at Rs 38.20 cr.
Centre releases Rs 27.25 cr as first instalment

R.Y. Narayanan

Coimbatore, July 26 The Tamil Nadu Government has given administrative approval for implementing schemes under Macro Management of Agriculture (MMA) at a total expenditure of Rs 60.55 crore.

While the Central Government’s share in the project cost would be Rs 54.50 crore, the share of the State Government would be Rs 6.05 crore under this project to be executed during 2007-08.

Out of the total project cost, the agriculture department would get a lion’s share at Rs 38.20 crore, the agriculture engineering department would get Rs 21.59 crore with the balance going to the State Planning Commission (for State Land Use Board) , according to an order issued by Mr Surjit K. Chaudhary, Agricultural Production Commissioner and Secretary, Agriculture, Tamil Nadu.

Major projects

A major chunk of the allotment made to the agriculture department — Rs 23.91 crore — has been sanctioned for the implementation of the National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA).

Other projects to be implemented by the agriculture department are Integrated Cereal Development Programme (Rs 4.09 crore), balanced and integrated use of fertilisers (Rs 4.67 crore) and innovative schemes like support to farmers interest group, and TOT (Training of Trainers) training to extension staff (Rs 5.53 crore).

For the agriculture engineering department, a large chunk of the allocation — Rs 12.50 crore — has been earmarked for the River Valley Project.

Reclamation of alkali soil and farm mechanisation are the other activities for which the funds have been allotted. For the State Land Use Board under the State Planning Commission, the balance allocation of Rs 75 lakhs has been made.

First instalment

The Central Government has released Rs 27.25 crore, being 50 per cent of its share, as the first instalment under the project.

Of this amount, Rs 21.80 crore has come as grant-in-aid and Rs 5.45 crore has been provided as loan.

The Centre would release the remaining portion of its share as second/final instalment once the State releases its full share.

The State Government has accorded sanction for Rs 33.30 crore (Rs 27.25 crore being the Centre’s share and Rs 6.05 crore the State Government’s share) as the first instalment for the implementation of the schemes under MMA.

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