Chennai, Jan 10 (IANS) In an attempt to increase pulse production, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Tuesday ordered the usage of Pulse Wonder, a crop booster with nutrients.

In a statement issued here, the government said Rs.212.50 crore has been allotted towards subsidy for farmers using Pulse Wonder, developed by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) in Coimbatore, around 500 km from here.

According to the government, in the first phase of the programme Pulse Wonder is to be used in 50,000 hectares spread over 1,695 villages.

Tamil Nadu has around 600,000 hectares under pulse cultivation, but the production is just 200,000 tonnes as farmers do not use any fertiliser to increase the yield.

According to the government, the usage of Pulse Wonder increases the yield by 20 percent.

Speaking to IANS, a TNAU official on the condition of anonymity said: “After multi-location trials in several places in Tamil Nadu, Pulse Wonder was ready for wider usage in 2010.”

He said a patent has been filed for the booster nutrient and it is pending.

“Pulse Wonder reduces flower shedding, increases drought tolerance of the plant while increasing the yield by 20 percent,” he said.

He said for a one-acre crop, two kg of Pulse Wonder should be sprayed mixed with 200 litres of water.

Currently the booster nutrient is manufactured by TNAU and last year the university supplied around 38 tonnes to the government.

“As per the government’s announcement, around 250 tonnes of Pulse Wonder would be needed for spraying 50,000 hectares of crop. Since the crops are grown at different places at different times, production can be managed,” the TNAU official said.