Date:18/09/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/09/18/stories/2005091806160500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

35 Malaysian farmers to tour Tamil Nadu

Special Correspondent

They will gain insight into the benefits of organic farming

CHENNAI: Thirty-five Malaysian farmers of Chinese origin will undertake a weeklong natural farming study tour in Tamil Nadu, covering Erode, Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Dindigul, and Chengalpattu districts.

The tour has been organised by the Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP), a non-governmental organisation.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, CAP Coordinator N.V. Subbarow said the objective was to provide the Malaysian farmers an insight into the nutritious advantage of organic farming and to show them the successful projects in different parts of Tamil Nadu. The study tour would help to establish more exchange programmes and a network with Tamil Nadu farmers, he said.

Mr. Subbarow said the CAP was a 35-year-old organisation conducting programmes on natural farming.

N. Gopalakrishnan, a Tiruchi-based organic farmer, and Sultan Ismail, Head of the Department of Biotechnology at New College, said the tour would begin on September 19 and end on September 26. Four journalists from Malaysia were also part of the delegation.