Scientific Advisory Committee

TAMIL NADU AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY

Report on 14th Scientific Advisory Committee

The KVK, Ramanathapuram organized 14th Scientific Advisory Committee meeting held on 30.12.2023 with the approval of the Honourable Vice-chancellor, Dr. V. Geethalakshmi, TNAU, Coimbatore. The Director, Extension Education, TNAU, Coimbatore presided over the meeting. The Dean, Community Science College and Research Institute, Madurai; Dr. A. Bhaskaran, Principal Scientist, ATARI, Zone-X, Hyderabad; Dr. Durai Singh, Professor and Head, Dr. V. K. Paul Pandi, Dr. T. Ragavan, Professors of Agronomy, AC & RI, Madurai; Dr. T. A. Vijayalingam, Professor and Head, VURTC, Ramanathapuram; the Executive Engineer, Agricultural Engineering Dept., Ramanathapuram; the Deputy Director, Fisheries Department, Ramanathapuram; the Asst. Director of Agriculture, Ramanathapuram; the Asst. Director of Horticulture, Bogalur block, Ramanathapuram; the Asst. Inspector of Sericulture, Ramanathapuram; the Veterinary Surgeon, Animal Husbandry Dept., Ramanathapuram; the General Manager, District Industrial Centre, Ramanathapuram; the Manager, IOB – Lead Bank, Ramanathapuram; the Superintendent, District Social Welfare, Ramanathapuram; Farmers and entrepreneurs were attended the meeting and given their recommendations on various aspects related to drought and saline tolerant varieties of rice and fodder crops, mechanization, soil health management, organic farming and natural farming etc.

The DEE, TNAU, Coimbatore; The Dean, CSC&RI, Madurai, Principal Scientist, ATARI, Hyderabad inaugurated the single window sales centre located at KVK premises, newly constructed organic farming production unit, IFS demo unit and visited field level demonstration unit on land races, soil health management, plant protection appliances, palmyrah products and handicrafts, sea weed extract products and interacted with entrepreneurs of Ramnad district and also visited crop cafeteria, having 22 rice land races and nine improved rice varieties of TNAU at KVK farm, Ramanathapuram.

Dr. S. Vallal Kannan, Programme Co-ordinator presented the action taken report of 13th SAC meeting held during 2022. The Dean, CSC & RI, Madurai insisted to include food safety officer for EDP programme. The Professor and Head, Dept. of Agronomy, AC &R I, Madurai, highlighted  nano urea and PPFM through drone technology and Uzhavan App may be popularized and also insisted the importance of duck farming in rice growing tracts of Ramanathapuram. The ADA, Ramanathapuram insisted the replacement of rice varieties viz., BPT 5204 and RNR 15048, which is suitable for semi-dry condition and seed drill sowing may be popularized among Ramanathapuram farmers. The ADH, Bogalur requested to establish model units of drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation at KVK farm. The Professor and Head, VURTC insisted to produce drought and saline tolerant fodder crops for domestic animals and also mentioned crop residue management techniques. The Executive Engineer, Agrl. Engineering Dept. highlighted to create awareness on seed drill sowing among the farmers through training. Farmers representative member, Mr. Mahesh Kumar, small farmer requested training on off-season flowering techniques in jasmine and also requested the management practices for root rot and leaf spot diseases in jasmine nursery. Mrs. Maragatham, Women Entrepreneur requested training on post harvest technology on small millets. Mrs. Velli Malar, Tiruvadanai Nerkalanjiyam FPO requested training on organic farming.

Dr. A. Bhaskaran, Principal Scientist, ATARI, Hyderabad insisted KVK activities may be popularized in all the 11 blocks of Ramanathapuram, increase the number of demo units at KVK and also highlighted drone spray and need of Integrated Farming System.

Dr. P. P. Murugan, Director of Extension Education, TNAU, Coimbatore insisted to create awareness about Central and State schemes through Uzhavan App among farmers and also highlighted training on water harvesting structures, soil health management, mechanization, natural farming, organic farming, TNAU-FPO linkage, planning for International Year of Millets and promotion of value addition, mineral mixture for cattle feed and training on palmyrah products.

The DEE, TNAU, Coimbatore; The Dean, CSC&RI, Madurai, Principal Scientist, ATARI, Hyderabad released KVK Newsletter (Man Valam-Manitha Valam) for the month of October to December 2022 and also released 12 booklets and seven leaflets on varieties, production technologies, IPDM practices and value addition.

Dr. P. Arunachalam, SMS (PBG) delivered vote of thanks.

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