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Our Bureau

Coimbatore , July 4

THE Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms J. Jayalalithaa, today expressed the need for a paradigm shift in the agricultural policy to attain higher growth trajectory.

Expressing concern about the plateauing trends in the yield of rice and wheat and the challenges in attaining higher production in view of the depleting water resources and soil exhaustion, she called upon scientists to come out with innovative ideas for better management of these scarce resources.

"Our policies must be aimed at preservation of precious water resources, aggressive development of wasteland areas and group action by SHGs (Self Help Groups) to enhance productivity and to sustain livelihood in rain fed areas," Ms Jayalalithaa said at the Centenary Celebrations of the Agricultural College and Research Institute here.

Accusing the Centre of not taking up the `Interlinking of Rivers' project to tide over the vexatious problem of floods on the one hand and acute water scarcity on the other, she said "it is not mission impossible. But it has to be accomplished in a specific timeframe".

The Tamil Nadu Government, therefore, decided on a project for modernisation of existing water resources. The project proposal has been submitted to the World Bank, but the State, instead of waiting for the World Bank's approval, decided to commence work this year with the Palar Basin. "We have started it as a State-funded project at a cost of Rs 20 crore," she said.

Suggesting the need to look at cultivation of alternative crops such as sweet sorghum and sugar beet, which require less water and provide post-harvest value addition, she said these versatile crops could be used in the production of bio-fuel as well.

The Government encouraged industrial houses to enter into Farm Contract Agreements with farmers cultivating these crops to provide them an assured market for their produce.

The farm varsity should undertake research to establish clonal seeds orchard for these crops and develop mass multiplication techniques to ensure adequate supply of quality material.

On the ever-growing non-traditional export opportunity, particularly in the cut flowers, horticultural products and organic foods space, she said there were some more agri-export zones in the pipeline for cashew nuts, grapes and banana.

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