Krishna, a farmer said, “We have set up green house in 1000 square feet for growing capsicum. This is one-year crop. We have to plant it 75 days in advance. From 75 days to till one year we are getting yield.”

“We are doing harvest once in a week. We received 50 grade, each grade contains 12 tonnes capsicum, so 50 kilogram contains 600 tonnes capsicum,” he added.

The green house production has also resulted in improving yield of the capsicum; hence the exports of the crop have increased significantly.

Horticulture Mission Assistant Director Ramesh Vainakun said, “At present, this capsicum has less pungency and little bit sweetness also. With this sweetness, the foreigners especially in countries like Malaysia and Singapore will like this.”

“These people will use our capsicum for benefits of them, for pizzas and other things,” added Vainakun.

The farmers of the region have received loans and are enjoying subsidy of Rs 32,500 from the Central Government.

The National Horticulture Mission was launched as a Central Government scheme in the year 2005 -2006 to promote holistic growth of the horticulture sector.

The cattle-breeding station was handed over to the Agriculture department of Madras on September 1, 1924.

It was later reformed as a livestock research station when it was taken over by the Madras Civil Veterinary Department, for maintaining the purity of Indian milk breeds of cattle and to conduct basic research on animal breeding.

The farm was renamed as District Livestock farm in January 1970.

The sections functioning in it include longstable diary, progeny testing scheme, horse section, poultry section, chick hatchery and sheep and piggery section.

“The area of the farm is 1641 acres, divided into 46, the highest altitude from the sea level is 3015 feet. The minimum temperature is about 15 to 20 degree Celsius and maximum is 30 to 35 degree Celsius. The average rainfall is 840 millimetres, which is about 84 centimetres. There are 17 sections in this farm and this is one of the biggest farms in South Asia,” said Gnanaupakaram, Deputy Director of Livestock Farm.

The farm is known for the breeding of rare varieties of cows and bulls like the one of Sindhi bulls. Different breeds of cows such as Jersey, Friesian, Cross-bred Friesian, Cross-bred Jersey and Kangayam are also reared in the farm.

The farm has been supplying cattle, both infant and adult, to various parts of the country and states.

Besides trading cattle and cattle produce, the farm also provides training to various doctors, inspectors and even farmers on livestock maintenance.

The landscape and the climatic conditions of the region also play an important role in the productivity of the farm.

The farm still follows traditional methods of breeding and preservation. (ANI)

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned Rs. 210 crore for construction of buildings in 303 government schools in the State, School Education Minister Thangam Thennarasu has said.

Inaugurating the School Reforms Conference here on Wednesday, Mr. Thennarasu said that 200 schools would be upgraded very soon. He said that 24 schools in Krishnagiri would be given priority.

To improve basic infrastructure, each of the schools would be given Rs. 61 lakh, he said.

Apart from this, 831 schools were upgraded through Sarva Siksha Abhiyan scheme.

This included 40 schools in Krishnagiri. Besides this, five new primary schools were established through panchayat unions this year, Mr. Thennarasu said.

The Union Government has decided to upgrade 1,000 primary schools in the State. With aim to improve the quality of education, all the High and Higher Secondary schools in the State would be linked with broadband connectivity.

Mr. Thennarasu said that the vacant teacher posts in the district would be filled soon. He gave necessary instructions to the officials in this regard.

The Minister appreciated the efforts of the headmasters, teachers and Parent Teachers Associations of the government schools in Krishnagiri that had mobilised assets worth Rs. 19 crore. Mr. Thennarasu said the aim of conducting Education Reforms Conference in 10 districts was to bridge the gap between the community, teachers and officials.

Later, Mr. Thennarasu honoured the philanthropists, who had contributed for the government schools in the district.

Collector V.K Shanmugam presided over the conference. School Education Secretary M. Kutralingam and School Education Director P. Perumalsamy were among those who participated.

M. Baskaran, Chief Education Officer, read the conference report.

K. Devarajan, Director, Primary Education proposed a vote of thanks.

Students were asked to develop the habit of reading books from a young age. With a view to inculcate reading habit, the government was running libraries all over the State. Students should make use of the concession offered to them for joining the library as member.

As many as 4.5 lakh students were enrolled as members of the public libraries in the State. A target had been set to enrol another 50,000 students from Krishnagiri district within a month.

Under the ‘Namakku Namae Thittam’, 21 branch libraries in the district were provided with computer. The central library in Krishnagiri has an IAS and IPS study centre with browsing facility. Students should make use of the libraries for improving their general knowledge, Mr. Shanmugam added.

J. Karthikeyan, District Library Officer (in charge), welcomed the gathering. Central Librarian T. Chinnathambi proposed a vote of thanks.

K. Ramkumar from Jekkappan Nagar gave away cheque for Rs. 1000 to the Collector to become a patron at the function.

Competitions
Presiding over the National Library Week celebration in Dharmapuri, Collector P. Amutha urged the people to develop reading habit. She urged the people to read at least one book daily and take part in competitions conducted in the libraries.

Later, she had inaugurated a children’s section in the Central Library.

To mark the library week, an awareness programme for students would be conducted. Panchayat Union level competitions for students from Std. IX to Plus Two would be conducted on January 8 and district level competitions on January 22.

The winners would be allowed to take part in the State-level competitions on January 29. P. Rajendran, District Library Officer (in charge), welcomed the gathering.

Mr. Shanmugam was inaugurating the 13-day training programme on vermicompost and bio-fertilizer production at Thatrahalli, near Kaveripattinam, for the Farmers’ Club members.

He welcomed the initiative of the clubs to help the members get loans from banks as well as making them repay the loans promptly within the stipulated time, thereby acting as a bridge between the bankers and the members.

G. Muthappan, Assistant General Manager, Indian Bank, said such clubs would be formed through the bank’s 56 branches in Krishangiri district.

He lauded the Farmers’ Clubs for their role in facilitating hassle-free loan disbursement.

Tamil Nadu Government Employees Association has asked the Government to withdraw immediately the outsourcing of work to private agencies and to fill up through employment exchanges and government recruitment agencies the various posts lying vacant in government offices.

Members of the association, speaking at a protest held near the New Bus Stand in Krishnagiri on Thursday, also sought the continuation of old pension scheme and regularisation of noon meal workers, anganwadi employees, panchayat assistants, clerks at town panchayats , rural librarians etc.

Their other demands included implementation of medical insurance scheme for government employees through public sector insurance companies and correction of the anomalies in the new pay structure for technical employees.

About 75 members of TNGEA, including 25 women, participated in the protest.

The farmers’ market, built at a cost of Rs. 22 lakh with 24 shops, was inaugurated by the Collector, V.K. Shanmugam, on February 23 this year. Now adjacent to the market, another market has been put up by a few people with local political support, alleges G. Periyasamy, Taluk Committee Member, Tamilnadu Vivasayigal Sangam.

He told The Hindu that the purpose for which the scheme was launched was severely hit. Complaints to the Collector and other officials did not bear fruit.

Mr. Periyasamy said the parallel market complex christened as ‘MGR weekly market’ was built by the Kaveripattinam Panchayat Union ten years ago as wholesale tomato mandi. Since, then it was occupied by some families of the narikuravars.

Soon after the ‘uzhavar santhai’ came into operation, the narikuravas were evacuated.

The intermediaries were blocking the farmers who bring their produce to the market and divert them to markets in Royakottai and Palacode for huge commission. As a result of which, the farmers could not bring and sell their products at uzhavar santhai.

The intermediaries buy farm products on lesser price and sell the same at huge profit to the outside traders. It was said that farmers could not even sell even 20 kg to 30 kg of tomatoes.

Tomato, brinjal and ladies finger were the common vegetables produced by the local farmers. Other vegetables are bought from Hosur Uzhavar Santhai and sold here, said a farmer.

In view of these hardships, farmers in uzhavar santhai blocked Kaveripattinam-Palacode state highway recently and sold vegetables on the road. Immediately, district officials and police rushed to the spot and promised them to find out an amicable solution. But, nothing had happened so far, Mr. Periyasamy said.

After this incident, Additional Collector Darez Ahmed inspected the market and promised to look into it.

Due to this, only 12 shops were kept open out of the 24. 19 weighing machines given to the farmers were kept at the uzhavar santhai office idely.

When contacted V.C. Govindasamy, chairman, District Agriculture Marketing Committee, said that it was the duty of the Kaveripattinam Panchayat Chairman Vivekanandan to regulate the market and settle the uzhavar santhai problem.

They urged the Government to strengthen the Public Distribution System, control the increase in prices of essential commodities in open market and protect the rights of the working class. Office-bearers of various trade unions participated in the demonstrations.

The nationwide demonstration was called by the leaders of various trade unions.

In Krishnagiri

In Krishnagiri, the demonstration was held in front of the Revenue Divisional Office on Old Bangalore Road.

Hari Rao, State Committee Member, Bank Employees Federation of India, presided over the demonstration. Trade union leaders Alagiri Babu, BSNL, Chandrasekar and Joyce both from TNGEA, the Central and State PSU employees’ coordination committee organised the agitation.

In Hosur, the demonstration was held in front of the Indian Bank on Denkanikottai Road.

G. Sekar, CITU State Secretary, presided over the demonstration. Rajendran, Muniraj of INTUC, Soundararajan and William George of HMS, Bharathy, BSNL, Siva, Bank Employees Federation of India, S. Vasudevan, District President, CITU, participated.

Trade union members and workers from Ashok Leyland, TVS. TTK, Easun, Tasmac, Bank, Insurance and BSNL employees also participated.

KRISHNAGIRI: In view of the Arignar Anna Centenary, Silambam competitions will be conducted for men and women in various categories on Sunday at the District Sports Stadium in Krishnagiri.

The participants will be segregated according to the weight of the candidates.

There is no age limit. The events will start at 8 a.m. For details contact the District Sports Officer.

Staff Reporter

KRISHNAGIRI: Students who had come to take part in a sports event were denied entry at the district sports stadium here on Wednesday.

The students had to wait under the scorching sunlight only to be informed by official that the event had been cancelled because All India Congress Committee General Secretary and MP Rahul Gandhi would be attending a function at the stadium.

Officials blamed

The students blamed the officials for not informing them in advance about the cancellation.

District Sports Officer (In charge) Kriba told The Hindu that they had announced the postponement of the events to Saturday. He blamed the security officials, who had come from New Delhi, for not informing them after taking over control of the stadium.

The prize distribution function was also cancelled.