THENI: Since paddy cultivation has almost come to an end in the Cumbum valley and nearby areas, the Agriculture Department has started to advise farmers to grow summer crops, such as green and black grams, sesbania and daincha (green manure crop), in the district.
Around 40 assistant agriculture officers, eight agriculture officers and eight deputy agriculture officers have been conducting field campaign on the summer season cultivation and training farmers on modern technology.
A source said Cumbum valley farmers have completed paddy harvesting on 14,000 acres of land and are being advised to cultivate green gram and black gram with the existing soil moisture. The system will be taken to other parts the district later.
A senior Agriculture Department official told Express that training and field visits resumed in 2014 and that AAOs have to educate farmers on modern technology.