Date:16/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/16/stories/2008061657210600.htm

Tamil Nadu

Agriculture expo throws light on modern technology

M. Balaganessin

Several departments had displayed the high yielding variety of a few agricultural crops

— Photo: R. Ashok

Green attraction: Visitors looking at an exhibit a stall in the exhibition at Pudukottai.

PUDUKOTTAI: The five-day exhibition cum seminar on “Agriculture and farmers’ development” organised by the Agricultural Technology Management Agency here provided ample opportunity to the farmers of central districts to know the latest technology in crop management and advanced strategy on marketing agricultural produce with adequate value-addition.

In all, 60 stalls were set up by the government departments and private agencies.

A wide range of exhibits on agricultural inputs, sprayers, sprinklers, fertilisers, pesticides and other agro-based products was quite an attraction for farmers from Pudukottai, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Karur, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur and Nagapattinam.

Several departments had displayed the high yielding variety of a few agricultural produces.

The Department of Horticulture, for instance, had displayed a giant bunch of ‘poovan’ variety weighing 102 kg with 315 bananas.

Special lectures

Experts from Tamil Nadu Agriculture University and the Tamil Nadu Veterinary Animal Sciences University and the National Pulses Research Centre delivered special lectures and conducted practical sessions to explain the crop-specific management, protection and allied topics.

The Department of Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business bagged the first prize among the government stalls in recognition of its strenuous efforts for sensitising the farmers to a more profit-oriented agricultural technology.

“The Department put up several units such as marketing strategy for agricultural produce; value addition for crops such as black gram; contract farming and regulated market committees,” said the Deputy Director, Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business, Pudukottai, T. Thangavelu, who received a shield from the District Collector Reeta Harish Thakkar at the valediction of the expo.

Prizes to NGOs

The Collector also gave away prizes to non-governmental organisations working for the cause of popularising advanced farm techniques among the farmers.

Farmers with record yield were also honoured with a cash prize.