Director’s Desk

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University > Open Distance Learning > Director’s Desk

Director’s desk

Dr.P.BALASUBRAMANIAM, Director (ODL) Dr.P.BALASUBRAMANIAM, Director (ODL) 

The Directorate of Open and Distance Learning was established  during April 2005, a pioneering attempt among the State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) with a prime objective of imparting technical know how and do how on agro technologies and agro based industries to various segments of learning who lack opportunity in campus based education. This Directorate concentrates its efforts on Distance Education in addition to     non-formal and continuing education.

Skill oriented certificate programmes in various subjects. Diploma programme in Agri-Inputs and Diploma programmes are offered through Distance Learning Mode for those aspiring for knowledge updating, self employment and entrepreneurship development. The primary target groups are Farmers, Employees of Government / Private sectors, field service providers from local communities and unemployed youth, entrepreneurs, NGO’s and school dropouts.

In 2010, a three year programme, Bachelor of Farm Technology (B.F.Tech.) was conceptualized with an idea of disseminating various agricultural technologies to the farming community to create confidence in farming. This programme was offered to the persons above 27 years of age with minimum qualification of 10th standard (pass or fail). Based on the interest of the B.F.(Tech) holders, our University started the M.F.(Tech)  programmes during September, 2016. The above two programmes namely B.F.(Tech) and M.F.(Tech )have been renamed as B. Farm Science and M. Farm Science and was offered to them from 2017-18 onwards.

Post graduate programmes were offered from the inception of Directorate. The following post graduate courses were offered through distance mode.

  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • Sc. (Environmental Management)
  • M.Sc. (Sugarcane Technology)

Since the inception of this Directorate, it was offering PG Degree courses viz., Master of Business Administration (MBA), M.Sc. (Environmental Management) and M.Sc. (Sugarcane Technology) through Distance Learning mode to those aspiring for professional upliftment and employment opportunities. The programmes were being offered to graduates of Engineering and Life Sciences in English. The Master of Science in Environmental Management and Master of Science in Sugarcane Technology were unique to Directorate of Open and Distance Learning of TNAU. The above courses are not offered at present due to the policy of UGC and ICAR

In recent years, the distance learning has gained adequate momentum among the learners of various sections of the community in view of its favourable qualities

Ongoing Open and Distance Learning courses

  1. Agricultural based certificate courses ( 44 nos.)

Since, 2005, it has ventured to impart technical knowledge on 44 nos. of agricultural based certificate courses to school dropouts, farming community, self help groups and other unemployed youth  with a view to empower them for self employment

  1. Diploma courses in Agriculture and Horticulture

In continuation of gaining of adequate momentum by the Diploma in Agri Inputs course among the learners of various section of the community in view of its favourable qualities, furthermore 12 Diploma courses had been initiated from 2021.

List of Diploma courses­

  • Diploma in Farm Technology
  • Diploma in Horticultural Technologies
  • Diploma in Herbal Sciences
  • Diploma in Coconut Production Technologies
  • Diploma in Sugarcane Technologies
  • Diploma in commercial production of Bio-fertilizers and Bio-control agents
  • Diploma in Production and Quality Control in Medicinal Plants in collaboration with PSG College of Pharmacy
  • Diploma in Tea Plantation Management in collaboration with Kothari Agricultural Management Centre, Coonoor
  • Protected Cultivation Technology
  • Hydroponics for Horticultural Crops
  • Smart Farming
  • Drone Technology in Agriculture
  1. Diploma in Agri – Inputs

As per the Central Government amendments regarding the Fertilizer Order and Pesticide, 2015, the basic educational qualification for the input dealers was fixed as Diploma in Agriculture. Hence, based on the need of the input dealers, the Diploma in Agri – Inputs course has been designed and is being offered since, 2016. At present, this course is being offered in 18 centres (Research Stations, Agricultural colleges and research Institutes, KVKs of Tamil Nadu Agricultural Colleges)

  1. Online certificate courses

Digital learning support courses in collaboration with M/s three sixty one Degree minds are also launched to ease learning for the people who aspire for continuous learning

  • Organic Farming Inputs
  • Ornamental Gardening and Landscaping
  • Medicinal Plants and Aromatic Crops Production
  • Kitchen and Roof Gardening
  • Pest And Disease Diagnosis in Home Gardening
  • Vermin-Composting
  1. Special Certificate course on Herbal Formulation and Technology

Special certificate course on Herbal Formulation and Technology is being handled in PSG College of Pharmacy as per the MoU signed TNAU and PSG College of Pharmacy, Coimbatore.

  1. Certificate courses for urban dwellers
  • Landscape and ornamental gardening
  • Nursery technologies
  • Roof and Kitchen gardening
  • Solid waste management