AGRICULTURE

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cuddalore district is predominantly agricultural district with coastal line stretching from Puducherry Union Territory in the North to the mouth of river coleroon in the south. The Total geographical area of the district is 3678 sq.km with the coastal line of 68 kms, Total cultivated area is 3,13,223Ha. out of which about 1,85,925Ha are irrigated.

The Agriculture department policy and objectives have been framed to ensure stability in agricultural production and to increase the agricultural predicting in a sustainable manner to meet the food requirement of growing population and also to meet the raw materials needed for agro based industries, thereby providing employment opportunities to the rural population.

Rainfall :

The average annual rainfall is 1206.7 mm. The District receives rainfall in all season. But major rainfall received during North East Monsoon only.

Soil Classification :

Type of Soil Places in District

• Red Loam Panruti, Kurinjipadi, Vridhachalam
• Lateritic Soil Vridhachalam, Tittakudi
• Black Soil Kattumannarkoil, Cuddalore, Chidambaram
• Sandy Coastal Alluvium Cuddalore, Kurinjipadi, Parangipettai

Veeranam Lake :

• Veeranam Tank – No.of Branch Channels – 34 Area covered 19776 Ha.

• Sethiathope Anaicut System

Area Coverage :

The Major agricultural crops cultivated in the district are Paddy, Cumbu, Maize, Varagu, Blackgram, Greengram, Sugarcane, Groundnut, Gingelly and Cotton. In the total area under cultivation, 59% area is irrigated and 41% is under rainfed cultivation. Total normal area cultivated is 247582 Ha.

District Level Organization Set up :

Joint Director of Agriculture is the overall monitoring and supervising authority of all schemes operated under Agriculture Department in the District.

Block Level Organization Set up :

Cuddalore District has 13 Blocks and in each block the Agricultural Department scheme activities are being implemented by the Block Assistant Director of Agriculture.

Infra structure Facilities :

State Seed Farm (SSF) – Vandurayanpattu and Miralur

The objective of the SSF is to multiply the breeder seeds and foundation seeds and distribute them for further mass multiplication of the seeds as certified seeds at farmers fields as a part of seed multiplication scheme. Paddy, Blackgram and Green Gram Seed production is carried out in both the SSF.

Bio Fertilizer production Unit (BFPU), Cuddalore

Bio Fertilizers such as Azospyrillum (Paddy), Azospurillum (Others), Rhizobium (Pulses) Rhizobium (Groundnut) and Phosphobacteria are produced and distributed in liquid and carrier based formulations. The objective of the Bio-Fertilizer application is to reduce the Chemical Fertilizer application and improve the Soil Health status by increasing the beneficial microbial load in the soil.

Soil Testing Lab, (STL) – Cuddalore

Soil samples are taken from the farmers field and sent to the STL for analysis. Based on the analytical report of the Soil testing Lab, Soil health cards are generated and distributed to the farmers. The objective is to educate the farmers to go for soil health card based chemical fertilizer application and also to control the indiscriminate use of Chemical Fertilizers that not only affect the Soil Health status and reduces the produce quality but also increases the cost of cultivation without any additional benefits.

State Pesticide Testing Lab (PTL) cum Coding Centre – Cuddalore

In order to ensure the quality of pesticides being sold to the farmers and check the movement of misbranded pesticides in the district, pesticide samples are taken from both the dealers point and in the manufactures stock point and sent to the PTL for analysis. Based on the analysis report steps are taken to check the movement of misbranded pesticides.

Coconut Nursery – Neyveli

The objective of the coconut nursery is to produce and distribute good quality Tall, Tall X Dwarf coconut seedlings to the farmers.

Agricultural Technology Management Agency ( ATMA)

The objective is to strengthen Research – Extension – Farmer linkages and convergence of the activities of Agri and Allied Departments.

Technology transfer through demonstrations, farmer field school, trainings and Exposure visits.

Schemes :

Different schemes are being implemented in this district to disseminate the advanced technologies for increasing productivity and production in all agricultural crops.

1. Centrally sponsored schemes :

National Agricultural Development programme (NADP) for Paddy, Millets, Pulses, Oilseeds, Sugarcane and Enriching Soil Fertility through Green Manure.

• National food security Mission – Oil Seeds, Oil Palm and Tree Borne Oil Seed crops.
• National Food Security Mission (NFSM) Paddy, Pulses, coarse cereals and commercial crops.
• National Mission on sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) – Integrated Farming System.
• Paramparagat Krishi VikasYojana (PKVY) to encourage organic farming.
• Pradhan Manthri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) micro irrigation in Agricultural crops.
• Coconut Development Board schemes (CDB) Coconut.
• Sub Mission on seeds and planting materials (SMSP)- Paddy, Millets, Pulses and Oil Seeds – Certified Seed Distributions
• Mission on sustainable Dry Land Agriculture (MSDA) – Rainfed, Millet, Pulses, Oil Seeds, Cotton
• Tamil Nadu Cotton Cultivation Mission (TNCCM) Cotton

1. State Scheme

• Seed Multiplication Schemes by TANSEDA.
• Area Coverage and Crop Production under various Crops.
• Demonstration on improved cropping packages through TN – IAMWARM Programme.
• Distribution of Agri Inputs to farmers through Agricultural Extension Centre and Sub Agricultural Extension Centre.
• Monitoring and Reporting the Natural Calamities situation in the District.

PRADHAN MANDRI FASAL BIMA YOJANA ( PMFBY)

In order to protect the farmers from the natural calamities in Cuddalore District PMFBY crop insurance schemes is being implemented for Paddy-II and Rabi season crops in 2016-17. Prior to this insurance scheme, National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) was in operation. Under NAIS crop cutting Experiment (CCE) were conducted in Firka level in selected villages. The yield obtained in the CCE will be applicable for all the villages in that Firka. Whereas under PMFBY scheme CCE is conducted for each revenue village and the yield obtained in applicable for the particular village and insurance claims if any are made accordingly to that village. In District Level Monitoring Committee (DLMC) under the Chairmanship of District Collector. For the year 2018-19 M/s. Chola MS General Insurance Company is the Crop Insurance Agency for Cuddalore District.

Collective Farming :

• To inculcate the movement of Collective Farming Community.
• To Educate on Collective purchase, collective cultivation, pooling of the produce and collective selling for better bargaining power and better income.

Contact Details :

Joint Director of Agriculture,

O/o. Joint Director of Agriculture,

Gundusalai,

Semmandalam.

Cuddalore- 607 001.

Phone No. 04142-290658

email.ID : agricud.tn[at}nic[dot]in