DIRECTORATE OF EXTENSION EDUCATION

The Thirty-Second Extension Education Council Meeting of TANUVAS was conducted at MVC on 20.10.2022. Dr. K.N. Selvakumar, Vice-Chancellor, TANUVAS chaired the meeting and in his introductory remarks highlighted the various extension programmes of TANUVAS implemented by the outreach centers for the benefit of the farming community. Dr. N.K. Sudeep Kumar, Member Secretary, Extension Education Council & Director of Extension Education, TANUVAS welcomed the gathering and presented the action taken report on the minutes of “31st Extension Education Council Meeting” and work done report pertaining to the extension activities of TANUVAS for the period,from 01.04.2021 to 31.03.2021 and 01.04.2021 and 31.12.2021.
Dr. S. Ramkumar, Professor, DVAHEE, RIVER, Puducherry and Dr. P. Sethuraman Sivakumar, Principal Scientist, ICAR - Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram served as external experts. Thiru. A Joseph Altton, Kommadikottai Sathankulam, Thoothukudi, Thiru. S. Meenkashisundaram, Erumbukkadu Post, Nagercoil and Thiru. A. Maharaja, Nadunaalumoolaikinaru, Thoothukudi, the farmer nominees of the Government of Tamil Nadu and other members of the Extension Education Council including University Officers of TANUVAS participated and offered suggestions.

The Directorate of Extension Education, TANUVAS organized an ‘Orientation cum Faculty Development Training Programme’ funded by ICAR-NAHEP, TANUVAS for 36 newly recruited Assistant Professors of TANUVAS at MVC from 10.10.2022 to 14.10.2022. A total of 21 lectures including 5 lectures by the external experts were arranged. The University Officers participated and briefed about the functions and mandate of their Directorates.
The valedictory function,was held on 14.10.2022. Dr. K.S. Palanisamy, I.A.S., Commissioner of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare and Managing Director, TNFDC, Government of Tamil Nadu participated as the Chief Guest, delivered the Chief Guest address and distributed certificates to the participants. Dr. K.N. Selvakumar, Vice-Chancellor, TANUVAS presided over the function, delivered the presidential address and released the training compendium. Dr. R. Karunakaran, Dean, MVC and Dr. C. Valli, Dean, Faculty of Basic Sciences felicitated. Dr. N.K. Sudeep Kumar, Organizing Secretary and Director of ExtensionEducation, TANUVAS presented the training report. Earlier Dr. T.A. Kannan, Professor and Head, Education Cell MVC, welcomed the gathering and Dr. G. Senthil Kumar, Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Husbandry Economics proposed the vote of thanks.

Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University has signed a MoU with the Agri-Business Incubator of the ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram to create a Satellite Incubation Centre in the Industrial tapioca areas of Viluppuram and Namakkal districts at MVC on 15.10.2022.
Dr. K.N. Selvakumar, Vice-Chancellor, TANUVAS and Dr. P. Tensingh Gnanaraj, Registrar, TANUVAS were present. As a part of the MoU, a planning workshop for developing the joint work plan between TANUVAS and ICAR-CTCRI with a focus on promoting tapioca based animal feed was organised at MVC. Dr. N.K. Sudeep Kumar, Director of Extension Education, TANUVAS, Dr. M.N. Sheela, Director, ICAR-CTCRI, Dr. R. Karunakaran, Dean, MVC and Dr. P. Sethuiraman Sivakumar, Incharge of ICAR-CTCRI Agri-Business Incubator participated and spoke. Thirty stakeholders including TANUVAS faculty, KVK scientists and tapioca farmers from Kalalkurichi and Namakkal took part in the meeting.

The Farmer FIRST project of the ICAR `Improving the likelihood security of farmers through technological interventions in Tiruvallur District of Tamil Nadu” of the ICAR, New Delhi is being implemented in six cluster villages of Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu by the Directorate of Extension Education, TANUVAS, Chennai with an aim of doubling the farmers income. The farmers of the village had been demanding mechanical interventions in their field to overcome labour shortage in agricultural operations. Accordingly the project identified the following towards mechanisation viz., Rotovator for ploughing and in selected crops for weeding, 2 feet power weeder for weeding in horticultural crop, power sprayer and battery sprayer for use in paddy field and for horticultural crops.
The mechanisation will help farmers to save time, labour and cost. The farmers were provided these interventions in a contributory mode both individually and in groups making them more responsible. 62 farmers were directly benefited through this mechanisation. Dr. K.N. Selvakumar, Vice-Chancellor, TANUVAS provided these machines to the farmers and addressed the farmers stressing the importance of scientific farming and use of farm innovations, besides seeking farmers groups to develop as an FPO on 27.09.2022 at a Farmer-Scientist Interface meet at Koyambakkam village.in Tiruvallur. Around 75 farmers participated in the event.
Dr. N. K. Sudeep Kumar, Director of Extension Education, TANUVAS and PI of the project, explained the purpose of the ICAR-Farmer FIRST project and its contribution to the six cluster villages. The farmers gave feedback of the project and were receptive to newer interventions. They also expressed that small changes had improved their income. Earlier Dr. V.M. Sankaran, Professor and Head, Dept. of Agronomy, MVC, Chennai and Co-PI of the project welcomed the gathering and Dr. G. Senthilkumar, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Animal Husbandry Economics, MVC, Chennai & Co-PI proposed the vote of thanks.

Farmers Training Centre, Theni in coordination with Animal Husbandry Department of Theni district conducted training cum demonstration on “Utilisation of TANUVAS Calf Kit” to the beneficiaries of the Government of Tamil Nadu sponsored project entitled “Distribution of Calf Kits to the beneficiaries of Milch Cow Scheme” on 19.10.2022 and 20.10.2022 at Chinnamanur and Lakshmipuram Veterinary Dispensaries of Uthamapalayam and Priyakulam divisions of Theni district respectively. A total of 300 beneficiaries of the scheme benefited from this programme.