Page 76 - EducationWorld October 2020

Special Report

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore

n alumnus of Tamil Nadu Agri- improving the germination of pulses rising.
Acultural University (TNAU) and and oilseeds, crop and soil nutrition
former manager at UPASI (United and for containing pests etc. Besides, What needs to be done to revive Indian
Planters Association of South India), TNAU has evolved several agro tech- agriculture to make this country an agri-
DR. N. KUMAR signed up as an as- nologies for enhancing crop growth culture superpower?
sistant professor at TNAU in 1979. In and for optimising the use of water, To revive Indian agriculture the edu-
2018 he was appointed vice chancel- nutrients, fertilisers. cation system — especially primary
lor of his alma mater. Excerpts from Thus, the growth and development education — of rural India needs to be
an interview: of the university is inclusive and satis- urgently improved. This will enable
factory. In 2010 we were awarded the our farmers to readily absorb the new
TNAU is ranked among India’s Top 10 (#7) Sardar Patel Award for Outstanding technologies and best practices devel-
agriculture universities in the ICAR Rank- Institution by ICAR. oped by the country’s 71 agriculture
ings 2020. What are its major universities which are
achievements? doing cutting edge
Today TNAU offers 10 un- research in high yield
dergrad, 33 postgrad and crop varieties. In
29 Ph D programmes to addition, greater atten-
4,000 students and com- tion needs to be paid
prises 15 constituent col- to developing rural
leges, 38 research stations infrastructure and a
and 14 KVK (Krishi Vidya sizeable food process-
Kendras) which deliver ing industry which
our lab to land extension will enable farmers
programmes. Over the to get their produce
years we have developed to profitable markets
several new strains and of their choice and
varieties of foodgrains, eliminate the massive
especially rice varieties wastage of agriculture
which have enabled Tamil produce annually. In
Nadu’s rice production this connection I am
to increase to 10 million hopeful that the new
tonnes — equivalent to 8.5 N. Kumar (centre): cutting-edge research claim telecom revolution
percent of India’s annual which enables farmers
production. Our #7 ICAR ranking Despite 60 percent of India’s population to discover best prices and markets
is very satisfactory considering we being engaged in agriculture/farming, and also the reverse entry of highly
were ranked #33 in 2018. It’s also a this sector contributes only 15 percent of educated professionals into cash
noteworthy achievement that we have annual GDP. How do you explain the low crops and horticulture, will enable the
received ICAR’s Krishi Karma Award productivity of Indian agriculture? spread of best practices and a brighter
for the past five years. Indian agriculture can become more tomorrow for Indian agriculture.
productive and profitable if farmers
How satisfied are you with the growth and adopt the latest technology. In TNAU, Any other comment?
development of TNAU? we have developed agri technologies India needs to rapidly enhance the
TNAU is a 114-year-old university which are steadily improving the per- digital literacy of our farmers. Greater
with an excellent research record. We unit productivity of land, resources, awareness is required in government
have developed 868-plus varieties in water, nutrients, labour, machines and society that empowering farmers
91 crops, 170-plus new farm machin- etc, used by farmers of Tamil Nadu will inevitably empower the country
ery, and 1,500 management tech- and beyond. If the agriculture sector and place India firmly on the road to
nologies as per the requirements of is not making the contribution it agriculture superstardom. In this con-
farmers and other stakeholders. New should to national GDP, it’s because nection the three recently legislated
strains of crops developed by TNAU the high yield foodgrains and other Acts with reference to agriculture, if
such as ADT 36, 37 and 39, and CO 51 produce strains developed by India’s implemented with determination,
rice, MCU 5 and MCU 7 cotton, CO FS agriculture universities are not reach- will double farmers’ incomes by
27 fodder sorghum, TMV 4 and TMV ing small farmers. It should be noted 2020 — the target set by the prime
6 sesame, ADT 3, ADT 5 blackgram, that 48 percent of our farmers are minister. Meanwhile in TNAU we are
CO Rg 7 redgram, PKM 1 tomato, working plots of less than two hect- continuously developing advanced
PKM 1 and 2 Moringa, are very popu- ares which makes profitable farming curriculums and research, which
lar with the farmers of Tamil Nadu. a very difficult proposition. Moreover when they move from lab to land
Moreover, nano technologies have the market prices of farm produce will surely make India an agriculture
been employed in weeds reduction, are very low even as input prices are superpower.

76 EDUCATIONWORLD OCTOBER 2020