To support rain-fed farmers cultivating chilli and horticultural crops, Chief General Manager of NABARD, R. Sankar Narayanan, inaugurated a solar drier in Sinnur near Vilaathikulam. The solar drier, covering 400 square feet and costing ₹3.05 lakh, is dedicated to efficiently drying chillies without pollution from dust and sand. NABARD allocated funds for this initiative through its Sinnur watershed restoration program, totaling about ₹1.73 crore.
Mr. Sankar Narayanan emphasized NABARD’s commitment to funding watershed development and restoration programs in areas facing water scarcity. The creation of farm ponds, sustained by monsoon water, has positively impacted rural livelihoods, enhancing farmers’ productivity. Watersheds developed through NABARD funding are now managed jointly by local watershed management committees for long-term sustainability.
As part of the silver jubilee celebrations of Vidiyel Trust, the organization implementing the Sinnur watershed development program, Mr. Sankar Narayanan distributed country chickens, bio-fertilizers, and tree saplings to women’s self-help groups. Additionally, he reviewed the progress of Sinnur watershed restoration and approved the formation of ‘Vidiyel Farm Producers Company Limited’ for cattle breeding by farmers in Sinnur and nearby villages.
Continuing the development streak, District Revenue Officer C. Ajay Srinivasan, in the presence of Mr. Sankar Narayanan, launched open sea cage fish farming under the ‘Integrated multi-tropic aquaculture (IMTA) farming’ initiative at Tsunami Nagar and Pullaveli near Thoothukudi. This collaborative program between NABARD and the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute’s Thoothukudi Research Station aims to train beneficiary fishermen in cultivating Asian Sea Bass in two floating sea cages.
During the launch, 1,000 fish seeds, mussel seeds, and seaweed seedlings were released into each cage, showcasing NABARD’s commitment to innovative and sustainable aquaculture practices. The CMFRI’s successful demonstration of IMTA technology in Palk Bay has provided an eco-friendly and sustainable option, generating additional revenue for coastal fishers through increased yields. This initiative not only aligns with aquaculture innovation but also serves as an alternative livelihood, contributing to the economic upliftment of coastal communities.
