The Hindu : Farm dept. web site inauguration today

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 04, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Pondicherry

Farm dept. web site inauguration today

By Our Staff Reporter

Pondicherry July 3. A web site, wide area and local area networks of the Agriculture department would be commissioned here tomorrow by the Union Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology, S. Tirunavukarasar.

Such facilities would be extended to farmers for the first time in the country, the Agriculture Minister, A. Namasivayam, told presspersons here today.

Stating that the web site and the other two facilities would be available under the first phase in Pondicherry and Karaikal regions. This had been arranged in keeping with the promise made on the floor of the Assembly recently to enable farmers to get solutions to the problems they encountered.

The facilities would function as effective extension machinery for the farmers and the department to achieve the goals for which `Uzhavar Udhaviyagams' (Farmers Information Centres) had been created in the Union Territory. Already six udhaviyagams had been opened in Pondicherry and Karaikal and 10 more would be opened soon.

The web site (www.pondicherryagri.org) set up with an outlay of Rs 1.5 lakhs would link the Government with the citizen, and business sectors.

Mr. Namassivayam said that the innovative and hi-tech facilities were contemplated to bring farm sector on par with the requirements and reforms emanating from the World Trade Organisation. All aspects of the department, its schemes, subsidies available for farmers and the cropping pattern they should adopt would be available and the information would be updated every day. Farmers could download the application forms to seek subsidies.

Particulars of the Market Committees, price of the produce currently quoted in the committees and also details on the nutritional recipes, journals and documents on agriculture would also be available.

This multipurpose web site based information would also enable farmers to know of the onset of monsoon.

Drought relief

Referring to the steps taken to tackle drought in Karaikal, he said that 12 deep borewells would be installed at a cost of Rs 24 lakhs.

A subsidy of Rs.1500 would be given for a hectare of paddy field to enable farmers to take up direct sowing.

Teleconferencing facility

Farmers can also utilise the teleconferencing facility through the department to get replies from the Goverenment Agriculture College and Research Institute at Karaikal to tackle pest attack and other problems covering farm activities.

The Wide Area Network would be commissioned and it has been set up with an investment of Rs.35 lakhs in collaboration with the BSNL Chennai. The Directorate is being linked to 15 branch outlets and institutions in Pondicherry and Karaikal regions.

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