Tamil Nadu Agricultural University’s Directorate of Extension Education and the Department of Agriculture-Farmers Welfare, Government of Tamil Nadu jointly organized “Research – Extension Interface Meet” under the Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms (SSEPERS) - Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) scheme on 30.05.2024 at TNAU Coimbatore.
The participants and the dignitaries were welcomed by Dr. P. P. Murugan, Director of Extension Education, TNAU. The one-day discussion meeting was attended by 37 district’s Project Directors of ATMA and 31 Krishi Vigyan Kendras of Tamil Nadu. The purpose of the event was briefed by Mr. S. Sankarasubramaniam, Additional Director of Agriculture (GOI Schemes) where he stressed Participatory Farmer Field Trials needs to be conducted in each district involving TNAU scientists and short-term research can be proposed based on the field problem. The Government of India is allocating funds under ATMA to carry out such research.
The Vice-Chancellor of TNAU, Dr. V. Geethalakshmi, inaugurated the event and addressed the participants on the technologies and varieties developed by TNAU which needs to be promoted to the farmers by the field extension officials of the Department for wider adoption. Further, she insisted to adopt Climate Resilient Agricultural Technologies on the changing environment. The existing linkage between KVKs, Research Stations of TNAU and the Department of Agriculture need to be strengthened for improving the condition of the farmers.
Later presentations were made by the Project Directors of ATMA on the researchable issues from all the 37 districts and the queries raised by the participants were addressed by the University Officers of TNAU. For instance, the Director of Crop Management sorted queries related to crop management, Director of Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics about latest varieties of crops, Director of Natural Resource Management about nutrients, Director of Crop Protection Studies about pest and disease management and Director, Centre for Agriculture and Rural Development Studies about policy matters and market related information.
The event was concluded with a formal vote of thanks by Dr. N. Anandaraja, Professor & Head, Training Division, Directorate of Extension Education, TNAU.