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Our Correspondent

Madurai , March 5

THE Coconut Development Board and the State Government have announced a subsidy of Rs 19 crore for spraying "eco-friendly botanicals" to save an estimated 1.81 crore trees in Tamil Nadu to fight the Eriophyid mite that has affected the coconut trees.

The last date of application from farmers to avail themselves of the subsidy is March 31.

According to the Joint Director (Agriculture), Mr P. Ramaraju, an expert committee has accepted the three-round spraying of botanicals, including Azadirachtin and neem oil, for which the pesticide cost per tree has been calculated at Rs 8.50.

Under the scheme, a farmer is eligible to get 50 per cent subsidy, that is, Rs 4.25 on the actual expenditure on the pesticide per tree. While a maximum of 175 trees per hectare could be allowed, an individual is eligible to get subsidy for up to a holding of five hectares only.

The Joint Director said the mite attack started about four years ago. Initially it affected Coimbatore district and subsequently spread across the State. It attacked the calyx of the tree resulting in reduced size and weight of the nuts, decrease in oil-content and quality of nuts. The attack could have been naturally controlled but for the failure of consecutive monsoon. The Deputy Director (Plant Protection), Mr M. Kader Mohideen, Coimbatore district, with 91.41 lakh trees, was the worst affected in the State. Other districts affected were Dharmapuri (29 lakh), Erode (13.52 lakh) and Virudhunagar (12.36 lakh).

The farmers have to buy the botanicals from licensed pesticide dealers and the subsidy could be obtained on production of the receipts.

The applications should be forwarded to the Block-level Agriculture Development Officer through the Assistant Agriculture Officer, who would inspect the affected trees and supervise the spraying activity, he said.

In Madurai district, a total of 1,39,540 trees have been affected. Vadipatti with 67,290 trees and Melur with 27,320 trees accounted for the majority of affected trees, it is learnt.

More Stories on : Coconut & Copra | Pesticides | Agricultural Policy | Tamil Nadu

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