TNAU second year B.Tech. Biotechnology students (59 nos.) from the Centre for Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology are placed in the National Service Camp at Karadimadai Village, Coimbatore from August 5 to 9, 2024. The students are organizing two informative discussions with the farmers of Karadimadai every day. Solutions and ideas for the farmers problems and suggestions were given to the farmers by the invited expert faculty from TNAU, Coimbatore.
On August 6, 2024 a discussion session on “Advantages of using Tissue Culture Banana” was organized by the NSS students. Around 32 Banana and vegetable farmers of Karadimadai village participated in the meeting along with the Vice-President of Karadimadai Village Mr.Ramachandran. The meeting was presided by Dr.Irene Vedamony, Dean, Horticultural College and Research Institute. Experts from the Department of Plant Biotechnology Dr.E. Kokiladevi and Dr.B.Rajagopal addressed the farmers.
The advantages of using Tissue culture banana like disease free planting material, uniform maturity and higher yield was explained to the farmers. Plant tissue culture training organized at the Department of Plant Biotechnology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University that can be availed by the farmers was also highlighted. Questions raised by the farmers on tissue culture for other crops was clarified by the faculty experts. Finally, tissue-culture multiplied G9 and red-banana seedlings were distributed to the interested farmers. Farmers who are interested in plant-tissue culture training may contact the Head of the Department of Plant Biotechnology, TNAU, Coimbatore.