ADMINISTRATIVE SETUP OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT:
Agricultural Engineering Department in this District is doing service to the Farming Community by implementing various Agricultural Engineering activities. Accordingly three subdivisions are functioning with Head Quarters at Cuddalore, Chidambaram and Vriddhachalam under the control of a Divisional Office with Head Quarters at Cuddalore. The details are furnished below
Revenue Divisions Taluks Agrl. Engg HQ. of the Sub Division Cuddalore 1. Cuddalore
2. PanrutiCuddalore Chidambaram 1. Chidambaram
2. KattumannarkoilChidambaram Vriddhachalam 1. Vriddhachalam
2. TittagudiVriddhachalam The specific functions are:
- Soil and Water Conservation in “Hills”, (Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats) “Plains”, (all River basins) areas Prone for Wind erosion Degraded lands, Drought Prone areas and in catchment of River Valley Projects
- Creation / Stabilisation of irrigation potentials by harnessing Ground Water by construction of Tubewells, Filter Point Tubewells and Revitalisation of wells
- Introduction of improved irrigation methods like Drip and Sprinkler systems
- Construction of Percolation ponds for Ground Water Recharge and prevention of flash floods
- On Farm Development works in River commands, Tank ayacuts well Commands, construction of Threshing Floors and Introduction of Rotational Water Supply Systems and formation of Farmers Irrigation councils in all Command Area Development Programmes and Modernisation / Standardisation Programmes
- Support services like provision of farm power for land levelling, shaping, and smoothening and to carry out mechanised cultivation through custom hiring of Bulldozers and Tractors.
- Training of farm youths, to upgrade their knowledge, skills and develop their attitude in handling Agricultural Machineries, their maintenance and Management
- Disaster Management by carrying out relief works during natural calamities like Flood and Drought
The various schemes implemented by this Department are as follows:
LAND DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES:
The Agricultural Engineering Department shall maintain a fleet of Bulldozers and Tractors with matched implements under custom hiring scheme and hire them to farmers for land levelling and carry out mechanised cultivation operations, to continuously demonstrate to farmers the advantage of using Agricultural implements and machinery
MINOR IRRIGATION SCHEMES:
The Agricultural Engineering Department shall hire out Power drilling rigs, Hand Boring Sets, Air Compressors, Geo Physical survey equipment and other required machinery / equipment to farmers and public in conformity with the Hiring rules for sinking Tubewells; Filter Point Tubewells; Boring inside wells and deepening of wells for Ground water Development
RAINWATER HARVESTING AND RUNOFF MANAGEMENT UNDER SOIL COSERVATION SCHEME:
The objective of this programme is to harness rainwater through Rain Water Harevesting Stuctures. The components of the program are Percolation ponds, Check dams, Ooranies, Village ponds, Sunken ponds, Farm ponds, Rejuvenation of failed/unused/abandoned wells and Injector wells. Injector wells have been proposed on an experimental basis to facilitate ground water recharge at suitable locations.All these works should be implemented only through the existing Village/Watershed Development Association/User Group. Rs. 68.284 lakhs has been spent for the year 2007-08 for watershed development works
INDIVIDUAL BASED WORKS :
Name of the works UNIT COST UPTO /NO Beneficiary’s Contribution Construction of Farm Pond Rs.40,000 10% of the cost or works for others 5% of the Cost of works for SC & ST Rejuvenation of wells Rs.26,000 COMMUNITY BASED WORKS :
Name of the works UNIT COST UPTO /NO Beneficiary’s Contribution for maintenance Percolation ponds Rs.3,00,000 10% of the cost or works for others 5% of the Cost of works for SC & ST Construction of Minor Check Dam Rs.20,000 Construction of Medium check dam Rs.50,000 Construction of Major Check dam Rs.1,00,000 Injector wells Rs.2,00,000 New Village Tanks / Ooranies Rs.1,50,000 Recharge wells Rs.25,000 MICRO IRRIGAITON SCHEME (DRIP AND SPRINKLER IRRIGATION SYSTEMS :
The Centrally sponsored scheme on Micro Irrigation is aimed at increasing the area under efficient methods of Irrigation namely drip and Sprinklers,in Horticultural and Agricultural crops with the oblective of enhancing productivity, quality and profitability of the targeted crops.The implementation of Drip Irrigation System for Horticultural Crops by Agricultural Engineering Department, under the Centrally Sponsored from the year 1991-92, has made an impact by thrust given by the Government of India and the State through their subsidy schemes and awareness created on the features. Agricultural Engineering Department is implementing the sprinkler irrigation system from the year 2000-01.From the year 2005-06 Tamilnadu Horticulture Development Agency (TANHODA ),On behalf of the Govt Of Tamilnadu, is the nodal agency in implementing Centrally sponsored scheme on Micro Irrigation the sprinkler irrigation system from the year 2000-01.In cuddalore District this scheme is implemented by Agricultural Engineering Department for all the tree crops like Mango,Guava,Cashew,Amla,Sapota.
SUBSIDY DETAILS OF MICRO IRRIGATION SCHEME :
Sl.No Micro IrrigationScheme Nature of Farmer Subsidy for one Hectare Crops eligible Max. Area allowable for one beneficiary family 1 Drip Irrigation System All farmers 50% cost of the Drip Irrigation system (or) as per GOI Guidelines based on crop spacing Whichever is less Mango,Guava,Cashew,Amla,Sapota & Other Tree crops(Except Tea,Coffee,Rubber & Oil palm) 5.00.0 Hectares.(Either Drip or Sprinkler or both) AGRICULTURAL MECHANISATION PROGRAMME :
Agricultural machineries like Tractors, Power Tillers and implements like Rotavator, Disc Plough, Cultivators, Power Thrashers are issued to farmers at subsidised rate. For the year 2007-08 an amount of Rs. 72.63 lakhs has been released as subsidy for this programme
REPLACEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL OLD PUMPSETS :
To improve the efficiency of pumpsets, old farm pumpsets are replaced with new farm pumpsets at subsidized rate so as to improve the energy efficiency. An amount of Rs. 21.585 lakhs has been released as subsidy for 2007-08.
DEMONSTRATION OF AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS :
Demonstrations are conducted at village level to create awareness among the farmers about the Improved Agricultural implements available for the farm operation. The implements demonstrated are a) Rotavator, b) Quickfit cage wheel c) Selfpropelled paddy transplanter d) Power weeder e) Zero till seed drill f) Post hole digger Village level demonstrations has been conducted to an amount of Rs. 1.25 lakhs for the year 2007-08
TRAINING ON AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS :
Training to farmers to operate the advanced agricultural machineries and implements are being conducted at Revenue Division Level. The following trainings are conducted
a) Operation , Maintenance and Mangement of Power Tiller
b) Selection, operation maintenance and management of Agrl. machinery for dry land agriculture
c) Selection, operation repair and installation of irrigation pumps and water management through sprinkler and drip irrigations
For the year 2007-08 Rs. 0.75 lakhs has been spent for this trainingCOMMAND AREA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME :
Command Area Development Programme is being implemented in the Cauvery command. . From 1.07.07 onwards three separate sub-divisions with head quarters at Cuddalore,Chidambaram & Kattumanarkoil are functioning to implement the above works. The following works are being carried out
>> On Farm Development works 1538.315 Ha Rs. 66.00 lakhs
>> Rotational Water supply 3092.495 Ha Rs. 9.00 lakhs
>> Development of Field drains 5205.35 Ha Rs. 152.95 lakhsSUBSIDIES GIVEN BY AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT :
Sl. No Details Subsidy percentage Maximum subsidy amount( Rs.) 1 Replacement of old pumpsets General SC/ST *5 HP and above 25% 5000/ No 6000/No *Below 5 HP 25% 2500/ No 3500/No *Assessories 50% 1500/No 1500/No 2 Agricultural Mechanisation Programme(subsidy Rates for SF/MF) Agricultural machinerie: *Tractor below 35 HP 25% 30000/No *Power Tiller 25% 30000/No Agricultural Implements : *Rotavator 25% 20000/No *Cultivator 25% 10000/No *Cage wheel 25% 2000/No *Paddy transplanter 25% 25000/No *Disc Plough 25% 10000/No *Power weeder 25% 20000/No *Power Thrasher 25% 10000/No MINOR IRRIGATION SCHEME- HIRE CHARGES DETAILS :
Sl.No Scheme/machineries Fleet strength Hire charges/ per Borewell dia Hire charges for Agri purpose (Rs) Non-agri purpose (Rs) 1 MINOR IRRIGATION SCHEME : (a) Hand boring set (b) Rotary Drill (c) Mini Drill (d) Electrical logger (e) AC resistivity meter 2 LAND DEVELOPMENT SCHEME : (a) Bulldozers Hours 670 670 (b) Tractors Hours 265 265 (c) Combined Harvester Hours 780