Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) is the pioneer among the Agricultural Universities in India to start the Distance Learning programme. TNAU is offering various Open and Distance Learning courses viz., Agricultural based Certificate courses, Diploma in Agri Inputs and Diploma Courses in Agriculture and Horticulture for school dropouts, farming community, Self Help Groups and other unemployed youth with a view to empower them for self employment and to develop as entrepreneur.
Since, 2005, TNAU has ventured to impart technical knowledge on 44 nos. of agriculture, horticulture and allied sector based certificate courses and among them courses viz., Coconut Cultivation Technology, Mushroom Production, Medicinal plants, Bakery and Confectionary products, Sericulture, Sugarcane Production Technology, Nursery Technology and propagation of horticultural crops, Waste recycling and vermi-composting, Organic Farming, Bee Keeping and Landscaping and Ornamental Gardening has gained more importance among the learners and the courses are being offered at various centers of TNAU regularly.
Moreover, Certificate course on " Sugarcane Production Technology" is being initiated for the Field Officers working in various sugarcane industries to gain knowledge above various technologies.
Online Certificate Courses on Organic Farming Inputs, Ornamental Gardening and Landscaping, Medicinal Plants and Aromatic Crops Production, Kitchen and Roof Gardening, Pest and Disease Diagnosis in Home Gardening and Vermi-Composting are offered in English to enable learning from anywhere.
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.
In continuation of gaining adequate momentum by the Diploma in Agri-Inputs course among the learners, 12 more Diploma courses had been initiated from 2021. Among them, the courses viz., Diploma in Horticultural Technologies, Herbal Sciences, Coconut Production Technologies, Sugarcane Technologies, commercial production of Bio-fertilizers and Bio-control agents and Tea Plantation Management are being enrolled by more number of learners and are offered at various centers of TNAU regularly.
Moreover new Diploma Programmes on Protected cultivation Technology, Hydroponics for Horticultural Crops, Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture, Drone Technology in Agriculture are to also offered.
Certificate course for Urban Dwellers mainly focuses on the people in urban areas who aspire for distance learning and interested in starting self employment programme in limited land areas of urban cities with efficient usage of land, transportation, infrastructure, public spaces, sanitation, air and water quality etc. The courses viz., Landscape and Ornamental Gardening, Nursery technologies, Roof and Kitchen Garden and Solid Waste Management are being launched now for Urban Dwellers.
The Directorate of Open and Distance Learning is taking constant efforts in preparing Self Learning Materials (SLM) with active participation of scientists of respective disciplines for the benefit of learners.
Besides this, the course materials were prepared with utmost care and included with illustrations, pictures, tables etc. to promote continuous learning.
All the courses of Directorate of Open and Distance Learning are being offered all over Tamil Nadu. The contact classes will be conducted only during Saturdays and Sundays for the benefit of the candidates at TNAU Main campus and all sub-campuses, KVKs and Research Stations of TNAU.
Hence, the farming community, entrepreneurs, self-help groups and other stake holders who aspire for education and interested in establishing agro based industries in rural areas are requested to get enrolled in this directorate and reap the benefit.