Prof. D. Suresh Kumar, Director, CARDS
CARDS is the first Multi-disciplinary Centre in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) established in 1978 by federating the Departments of Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology.Later the Department of Agricultural and Rural Management was established in 2000 under CARDS. CARDS is an advanced Centre of learning in Social Sciences at TNAU, promoting Education, Research, Extension and Policy Advocacy in Agriculture and Rural Development.
The former Directors nurtured and groomed CARDS in to a reputed centre of excellence in both teaching and research. Also,many of its illustrious staffs and students contributed in the evolution of the centre as it is today. The vision of CARDS for the next decade is to further develop it as an Institute of high standing and join the league of world class centres of excellence in Agricultural and Rural Development Studies. This can be achieved by the proactive patronage of our Hon. Vice Chancellor, dedicated and untiring faculty, and talented and creative students.
The share of agriculture in the state economy has progressively declining due to the high growth rates of the industrial and services sectors. Nevertheless, the sector’s importance in the State’s economic and social fabric goes well beyond this indicator. Not only more than half of the population in the state depend on rural incomes, the development of the sector is vital for food, nutritional and livelihood security. To achieve this, a productive, competitive, diversified and sustainable agricultural sector need to emerge at an accelerated pace.
The contemporary development milieu is replete with macroeconomic policy changes and paradigm shifts in the development strategies to transform agriculture into an attractive profession. The policies on doubling farm income, collectivization of small and marginal farmers, thrust on water conservation and efficiency, strengthening of rural infrastructure, agricultural marketing reforms, risk mitigation etc. are part of the new outlook for agricultural development. The education and research not only need to be geared up to understand the socioeconomic outcomes of these changes but also to design new systems, processes and institutions to result in better outcomes.
In this endeavor, the research agenda of CARDS has been carefully crafted to address the persistent concerns of agriculture and rural development in tune with the changing times. These include Farm profitability and Resource use efficiency, Agricultural Marketing and Price Analysis, Market Advisory Services, Supply Chain Management, Agricultural Finance and Crop Insurance, Institutions in Agriculture – Farmer Producer Organizations, Self-Help Groups, Joint Liability Groups,ICTs in Agriculture, Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship, Impact Evaluation of Development Projects, Ecosystem services, Land Use Changes, Water Resource Management, Environmental Impact Assessment, climate Change Policies and Sustainability of Production Systems.Over the years CARDS have developed partnerships and linkages with State Government, Central Government, Universities, and National and International Organizations to address some of these issues.
My task is to carry on this inherited rich legacy of CARDS and to make the education and research germane in the emerging higher education landscape and socioeconomic environment. True to the dictum, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world’, we in CARDS, strive for contributing to the social transformation process which leads to ‘the Greatest Good for the Greatest Number’.
My good wishes always reach out to the farmers, students, faculty and staffs. ‘The future is bright and beautiful. Love it, strive for it and work for it’. Let’s all together position CARDS and TNAU at a higher growth trajectory.
Prof. D. Suresh Kumar, Director, CARDS