Theni farmer bags State award for highest productivity

R. Murugavel, a farmer from Vadugapatti in Theni district, was felicitated by Theni Collector R.V. Shajeevana, officers and farmers associations here on Monday for bagging the State-level award for recording the highest productivity in yield.

R. Murugavel, a farmer from Vadugapatti in Theni district, was felicitated by District Collector R.V. Shajeevana, officers and farmers associations here on Monday for bagging the State-level award for recording the highest productivity.

Mr. Murugavel told media persons that he had been doing farming for the last two decades. He was now growing paddy and other crops on 1.40 hectares of leased land. “I was encouraged by Agriculture Department officials in Periyakulam, who organised training programmes and camps on System Rice Intensification (SRI) technique,” he said.

The technique not only helped him get the highest yield, but also taught him to save money on fertilizer and water. The best farming practices were taught by the officials, Mr. Murugavel said, and appealed to other farmers to adapt new techniques.

Thanking Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for giving him the recognition, he said the award in the name of Dr. Narayanaswamy Naidu and the cheque for ₹5 lakh were a big motivation to the entire farming community of Tamil Nadu to achieve.

An Agriculture Department official said Mr. Murugavel had harvested 10,815 kg of produce from one hectare, the highest in the State, during the 2023-24 season.