HoD's Desk
Hearty and Healthy greetings to All!
Welcome to the Department of Vegetable Science of Horticultural College and Research Institute for Women, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India. The department is equipped with well qualified teaching faculty. The main objectives of this department are teaching, research and extension activities in the area of vegetable science. This department also address the critical challenges faced by the vegetable growers, and farming society of this region.
Vegetables are important constituent of Indian agriculture and plays an important role in national economy. Vegetables have gained importance due to their short duration, high yield, nutritional richness, economic viability and ability to generate on-farm and off-farm employment. Presence of diverse agro-climates with distinct seasons, making it possible to grow wide array of vegetables. India is the second largest producer of vegetables in the world. India produces 14 % (146.55 million tonnes) of world’s vegetables on 15 % (8.5 million hectares) of world area under vegetables. Productivity of vegetables in India (17.3t/ha) is less than the world average productivity (18.8t/ha). Total area under horticultural crops is 21.83 million ha and production is 240.53 million tons. Vegetables are vital sources of proteins, vitamins, minerals, dietary fibers, micronutrients, antioxidants and phytochemicals in our daily diet. Apart from nutrition, they also contain a wide array of potential phyto-chemicals like anti-carcinogenic principles and anti-oxidants. Potato (28.9%), tomato (11.3%), onion (10.3%) and Brinjal (8.1%) are the four major vegetables contributing 58.6% of total vegetable production in our country. Area under vegetable cultivation is continuously increasing, due to higher productivity, shorter maturity cycle, high value and greater income leading to improved livelihoods. Production of vegetables is touching new records every year, making it the most favoured agricultural commodity by the farmers. This manifold increase needs to be sustainable to meet the demand of 1.5 billion people by 2030. The present trends of global climatic uncertainty exacerbate the need for a strong vegetable research & development program. It is extremely important to help farmers become more resilient in the face of greater warming, cooling, drought, salinity and flooding or combination of these constraints so that they are better prepared to handle future climatically induced production uncertainties. There is an urgent need to reorient the research programs to manage the likely changes in biotic and abiotic stresses due to climatic changes. Breeding as well as cultural technologies such as grafting, IPM and growing crops under protected conditions will have to be further exploited. Now, the department is involved in the development of varieties and technologies to suit the farmers of Tamil Nadu.
The department has unceasing commitment to the students, helping to learn, grow, develop, and achieve the goals in their pursuit to excel in their professional career. The department was established in the year 2018 and since its inception, the department offering undergraduate courses in key areas of vegetable science and allied subjects. The department faculty work with excellent team spirit and professional manner with different technical team which leads to key research publications and consultancy in these areas. The department strives to provide a conducive environment for the students to develop analytical and practical skills and apply them to solve the real problems.
Dr. V.Lakshmanan, Ph.D.,
Professor and Head
Department of Vegetable Science
Horticultural College and Research Institute for Women,
Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
E mail: vegtry@tnau.ac.in