Award winning farmer felicitated by District Collector for traditional paddy cultivation
Kanniyakumari District Collector R. Alagumeena felicitated Belin Gold, a farmer from Achankulam village in Agasteeswaram taluk for winning first place in the state level traditional paddy cultivation yield competition.
The felicitation took place at the farmers grievance redress meeting held at the district collectorate on Thursday.
It is noted that Mr. Gold was also awarded with 'Bharat Ratna Doctor MGR Traditional Paddy Varieties Conservation Award' and cash prize of ₹1 lakh , which was presented by M.R.K. Paneerselvam, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, at an event held earlier this month in Chennai.
During the meeting the farmers raised concerns over the delay in the projects under the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Railway departments involving the construction of culverts, bridges across water bodies. They urged the authorities to ensure the timely completion of these projects for the benefit of the farming community.
Vins Antro, from Kodayar Irrigation System Project Committee said that the petition had been submitted primarily involving the Pattinam canal (Pattinamkaal), where the NHAI is currently implementing a four way lane project, expected to be complete by June or July. However, Railways had not yet commenced their double track project in the same area. 'The projects undertaken by two different departments on different time periods will severely impact the farmers, as around 15, 000 acres of agricultural land are irrigated through Pattinam canal,' he added.
Farmers also submitted petitions to restore the Suchindram canal, Alanthurayar canal, and canal near the Vaigai pond in Aralvaimozhi. They also raised concerns about the heaving vehicles passing through Thovalai canal, which are damaging the weirs and the roads in the region.
At the meeting, the collector assured that steps would be taken to address the petitions promptly. She directed the officials to evict the encroachments from the water bodies and announced that 'Kuruvai' packaged project had been allocated for Kanniyakumari district, urging farmers to utilise it. At the meeting it was informed that the water would be released from Pechiparai dam on June 1 or 2 for irrigation purposes.
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