TNAUNEWS TAMIL NADU AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY NEWS LETTER Patron: Dr. K. Ramasamy, Vice Chancellor »òÂØï_éVD cðk¹ÂzD cÝ>\ì cwkìïÓÂz Editor: Dr. G. Kathiresan, Director, Planning & Monitoring c>sÂï«D Àâ|D Ã_ïçéÂïwïD System Rice Intensification- National and State Level Award Tamil Nadu on January 26, 2013 for achieving highest yield of 20, 680 kg/ha in rice variety CR 1009 by adopting t e c h n o l o g i e s o f S y s t e m R i c e Intensification. The recipient of this National and State level awards has Mr. P. Solamalai, S/o A. Periyasamy of undergone several training programmes organized by Andaman village Velliyakundram panchayat, Madurai KVK, Madurai and the Department of Agriculture and he East has been honoured with Krishi Karman Award was also one of the farmers who underwent FFS (Best Performance Farmer Award) by His Excellency programme on rice seed production under SRI President of India on January 15, 2013. The award conducted by KVK during 2010-11 at Andaman carries a citation with cash prize of one lakh. Further Kanjarampettai village. The knowledge acquired by this was also awarded a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakhs along with farmer during these programmes was highly helpful to a citation was awarded by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of achieve these National and State awards. Science forum Inauguration cultivation of flowers a n d e x p o s e t o At Dryland Agricultural Research Station, i n t e r n a t i o n a l Chettinad a Science forum was initiated by the P&H to s t a n d a r d s , discuss about recent scientific developments in the field of vocational training agriculture and life sciences within India and elsewhere. On cum exposure visit the day of inauguration of the Science forum on 21.01.2013 were conducted at the inaugural lecture was delivered by Dr. C. Swaminathan KVK, Needamangalam on 18th and 19th December, 2012. on Vrkshayurvedic Farming. In this, he narrated the The vocational training was inaugurated by Dr. K. Chozhan, traditional and indigenous ways of agriculture reoriented Professor & Head and Co-ordinated by Dr. K. Kumanan, and redefined with modern scientific methods for quality Assistant Professor ( Horticulture ) along with Dr. V. Alex food production with low cost technologies. All the Albert, Assistant Professor ( Seed Science & Technology ). Scientists and technical personell working at the research One day exposure visit to flower gardens at station participated and shared their views. The Science Sathiyamangalam was arranged these farmers attended a forum will meet on third Monday of every month. seminar on “Buyers and sellers meet on flower growers” organized by the Department of Floriculture and Land Vocational training to scaping, Horticultural College & Research Institute. flower growers of Tiruvarur district. Coimbatore. Twenty progressive flower growers from To popularize and to sensitize the farmers on Tiruvarur district participated in the vocational training. Vol. 65 No.02 February 2013 of genetic purity and the role of various purity tests to Ragi field day assess the genetic purity were highlighted. F r o n t l i n e The participants were exposed to various demonstrations on methods for genetic purity maintenance like ragi were laid out at conventional methods for cultivar identification, varietal Thamarakarai and deterioration, DNA finger printing analysis, DNA bar Uoosimalai villages coding, etc. in Bargur hills of th The valedictory function was conducted on 11 Erode district to January, 2013, in which welcome address and a brief improve the production as well as the productivity of the note about the training was given by Dr. M. Bhaskaran, ragi crop. High yielding variety of ragi Co 14 was P&H, In the special address, Dr. K. Ramamoorthy, introduced and the production technologies were Special Officer (Seeds), explained the usefulness of T included in the demonstrations. the training programme to the participants involved in To popularize the improved technologies seed production and seed quality testing. The among the farmers, a field day on ragi crop honourable Vice-Chancellor Dr. K. Ramasamy in his N presidential address, stressed the importance of was conducted on 14.12.2012 at Thamarakarai Village. Dr. R. Ravikesavan, P&H, Department of traditional methods of seed storage, preservation of Millets, presided over the gathering. Dr. S. Manoharan, land races, importance of seed quality assurance etc. A Professor of Agronomy welcomed the farmers and The Vice-Chancellor also motivated the scientists to explained the improved technologies for obtaining concentrate more on traditional based research. higher yield in ragi crop. Dr. A. Nirmalakumari, Dr. P. Selvaraju, Professor (SST) proposed the vote of Professor (Small Millets) explained the special features thanks who coordinated this training programme U of improved varieties of ragi and other small millets in associaion with Dr. R. Jerlin, Professor (SST), and the need for growing the improved varieties. Dr . S. Lakshmi and Dr. R. Vijayan. Dr. A. Subramanian, AP, explained the preparation of th different value added products from ragi and other small 64 Independence Day celebration at millets through which the farmers can earn money. AC & RI, Madurai Thiru. K. Navaneedham, AAO also spoke on that occasion. Thiru. Sivappa, Supervisor of MYRADA, The Independence N Gopichettipalayam proposed the vote of thanks. About Day celebration was 50 farmers participated in the field day function and observed at AC & RI, interacted with the scientists. Madurai. Dr. SP. E Sundaram, Dean (in-charge), AC & National training on RI, Madurai hoisted Varietal purity testing of specified traits the National Flag in W the premises of Main National training building, saff club on “Varietal purity and college stadium testing of specified on 26. 01. 2013 and S traits” was organized e x t e n d e d t h e at the department of greetings to the Seed Science and students and staff members. The Guard of Honour was Technology. from 7th given by NCC Cadets of Agricultural College & to 11th January, 2013. Thirty one participants attended Research Institute, Madurai, lead by NCC officer Lt. the training. Dr. M. Theradimani. During this occasion, different competitions were conducted for the children and The training progamme was inaugurated on 7th students. During this function, Staff Advisor, January, 2013. In the welcome address by Dr . C. R. Anandakumar , W arden, Dr. S. M. Ibrahim and Dr. M. Bhaskaran, P&H, the importance of maintenance other staff were present. February 2013 2 Review of ICAR – NAIP project by m o r n i n g s u r i y a World Bank team pongal in which Dr. K. Ramasamy, A team from the 12th Vice Chancellor, I m p l e m e n t a t i o n Dr. P. Subbian, Support Mission of Registrar, Dr. A. the World Bank Raja Rajan, Dean (Agri.), and Dr. Z. John Kennedy, Staff Advisor, c o m p r i s i n g o f participated. This was followed by competitions in Dr. Paul Singh Sidhu traditional games like nondi, paandi, gilli, kho kho, and Dr. Manivannan kabbadi, kannamoochi, uriyadi, kolappotti, from World Bank, Dr. P. S. Pandey and Dr. R. K. Goyal thattangal, tug-of-war and saakku race, in which the National Co-ordinators of NAIP Components I and II students participated in large numbers and won prizes. T respectively visited the Department of Floriculture and There was also a pongal-making competition and the Landscaping, from 22 – 24 January, 2013. The World final year boys bagged the best pongal award. Bank, team interacted with the project beneficiaries from Sathyamangalam, Ooty and Trichy. They also N Pongal celebrations by students of visited M/s. Vanguard Exports, Coimbatore who is one HC&RI, Periyakulam of the consortium Partners in the project. Dr. M. Jawaharlal, P&H of the department, who is the The Students A consortium principle investigator of the project, o f H C & R I , explained the activities, outcome and impact of the P e r i y a k u l a m project to the team. c e l e b r a t e d t h e Pongal Festival on U Pongal vizha 12th January 2013 in a grand manner. Pongal vizha, the Tamil festival, was The students wore dhoties and saries following the celebrated with traditional enthusiasm by the students traditional Tamil costume. Mud pots were used for the of Coimbatore campus on 10th January 2013. The day- preparation of Sweet Pongal along with sugarcane, long Vizha started with students making early “POZHIL” student magazine released N magazine in Tamil, brought out by the Tamil Literary Society of TNAU Students' Club on 29th E December 2012. The Vice Chancellor, Dr. K. Ramasamy, presided over the function. Dr. A. Raja Rajan, Dean (Agri.) W and Dr. S. Santhana Bosu, Dean ( A g . E n g g . ) p a r t i c i p a t e d . Ms A. Brundha, Secretary, Tamil IIakkiya Mandram, welcomed the S gathering. Ms. S. Punitha, Club S e c r e t a r y p r e s e n t e d a vaazhthuppa. Dr. Irai Anbu, alumnus of our University, appreciated the efforts of the Dr. V. Irai Anbu, IAS, Principal Secretary students in bringing out the Tamil literary magazine and (Training), Department of Personnel and delivered a motivational speech on career planning. Administrative Reforms, Government of Tamil Nadu Mr. N. Naveen Kumar, Joint Secretary, Tamil Ilakkiya released the new edition of “POZHIL”, the student Mandram proposed the vote of thanks. February 2013 3 turmeric, flowers and banana trees which were m easures for the benefit of farm labourers.