CHENNAI: In a bid to ensure immediate compensation to farmers, the State government on Thursday announced an ‘Individual Farm Insurance Scheme” on a pilot basis, besides a host of other projects to develop the farm sector and aid farmers.Making a slew of announcements after replying to the Demand for Grants to the Agriculture Department, Minister for Agriculture S Damodaran said the individual insurance scheme for farmers would be implemented in the current year in Nemili and Aruppukottai in Vellore and Virudhunagar districts respectively on a pilot basis. “This plan will remove the obstacles in the National Agriculture Insurance Scheme,” he noted.Announcing that an Integrated Farming Model Village would be set up in all taluks of the State, he said if avocations like cattle and fish-rearing was taken up along with agriculture, it would augment the income of farmers.Stating that the government was giving priority for the growth of Adidravidar and Scheduled Tribe farmers, Damodaran said that farm implements and equipment would be given free of cost in 385 taluks at an outlay of Rs 5.85 crore through the agriculture committees.Pointing out that soil fertility had declined due to indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers, the Minister said a sum of Rs 5.45 crore will be allotted to encourage the use of organic fertiliser and vermi-compost.The Bio-fertiliser Manufacturing Centre’s infrastructure would be developed at a cost of Rs 2.75 crore. “The shelf life of solid state bio fertiliser is only six months. Hence, to make liquid state bio-fertiliser, the infrastructure of the BFMC will be developed,” he informed.
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