Sources from Chennai have stated that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha on Friday has said her government would implement Rs 64.30 crore combined scheme for direct sowing of Samba crop in the delta region if the Mettur dam could not get adequate water by end of August.
It is stated that after making a suo motu statement in the Assembly, she has said samba crop would normally cover 14,93,000 acre if there was adequate rain during the North-East monsoon and adequate water in Mettur.
Jayalalitha has also stated that farmers would get Rs. 500 per acre for sowing and the total allocation was Rs. 25 crore and that the farmers will get Rs. 10 per kg of seed as grant to get quality seeds and the government will allot Rs. 4.50 crore for the purpose.
Meanwhile to facilitate mechanized sowing, a farmer will get Rs 600 per acre and the allocation for the scheme is Rs. 3 crore and as weeds are likely to sprout in direct sowing, farmers will get Rs. 280 per acre for herbicide. Moreover, farmers will get Rs. 2000 per acre as grant in areas where plantation is done through machines and the government will allot Rs 20 crore.
