CHENNAI: In order to improve pest manage practices, the Tamil Nadu government on Friday announced that 100 villages would be turned into integrated pest management model villages during the current financial year.
“We have decided to establish 100 integrated pest management model villages in 20 districts during 2016-17 at a cost of ` 1 crore,” said R Doraikkannu, Minister for Agriculture. The pilot scheme of integrated pest management to produce bio-control agents set up at 150 villages already had evoked better response among farmers.
Further, he said `20 lakh would be allocated to open 20 marketing centres in special commercial complexes of Agri-marketing department during the current financial year to promote sale of agricultural produce through farmer-producer organisations.
Face lift to Bryant park
Doraikkannu said the Bryant Park in Kodaikanal would be given a face lift at a cost of `1 crore. The tourist attraction accounts for 6 lakh visitors a year. Renovation of the children’s park, setting up computerised entry ticket counter, fitting of closed circuit television cameras, improving the guest house and water resources and setting up a vehicle parking lot would be done under the renovation scheme, he said.