Dr. V Geethalakshmi, Honourable Vice-Chancellor of TNAU, Coimbatore inaugurated the Mela and expressed her views on the importance of mechanization.
Coimbatore: Tamil Nadu Agricultural University’s (TNAU) Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Coimbatore and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi jointly organized the Agricultural Machinery and Technology Demonstration Mela 2022-23 on February 14.
Dr. V Geethalakshmi, Honourable Vice-Chancellor of TNAU, Coimbatore inaugurated the Mela and expressed her views on the importance of mechanization. Machineries developed under All India Coordinated Research Projects on Farm Implements and Machinery, Ergonomics and Safety in Agriculture, Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology, Energy in Agriculture and Agro-based Industries and developed Consortia Research Platform on Farm Mechanisation and Precision Farming were displayed at AEC & RI premises.
Tractor operated check basin former, sugarcane cutter planter, corncob harvester, vegetable transplanter, pneumatic planter, drone sprayer, coconut tree climber, tomato and brinjal seed extractors, groundnut decorticator, pulse milling machine, solar dryers, forced combustible cookstove, biomass gasifier, biochar production unit, low cost filters and precision farming technologies viz., round basin irrigation and drip fertigation for coconut, plastic mulching, groundwater recharge in borewells, positive pressure cooling system in greenhouse and acid treatment, chlorination and oxygation in drip irrigation were demonstrated to the farmers. Around 520 farmers get benefited from the demonstration Mela.
At the valedictory function, Dr. A Raviraj, Dean (Engg.), in his special address, informed that the benefit of custom hiring centres operating in different districts may be availed by the farmers. Dr. P P Murugan, Director (Extension Education) insisted that domestic gadgets may be developed and popularised through KVKs’ spread over the state. Dr. M K Kalarani, Director (Crop Management) expressed her views about the availability of paddy machineries towards seed-to-seed mechanization and to purchase larger machineries through Farmers Producer Organizations and utilize on custom hiring basis.
Farmers appreciated the way in which the Mela was conducted. One of the farmers requested the organizers to conduct such melas at the district/block level too.
Dr. R Thamizh Vendan, Registrar, TNAU in his Presidential address, mentioned about the three major problems faced by the farmers viz., water scarcity, labour shortage and climate change which could be mitigated through farm mechanization. He insisted that the farmers must act as representative to carry the message about the machinery available at TNAU to other farmers. He distributed awards to the best progressive farmers in farm mechanisation.
While Dr. R Kavitha, Professor and Head (FM & PE) had welcomed the gathering, Dr. D Ramesh, Professor and Head (REE) proposed a vote of thanks to conclude the Mela.
Dr. V Geethalakshmi, Honourable Vice-Chancellor of TNAU, Coimbatore inaugurated the Mela and expressed her views on the importance of mechanization. Machineries developed under All India Coordinated Research Projects on Farm Implements and Machinery, Ergonomics and Safety in Agriculture, Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology, Energy in Agriculture and Agro-based Industries and developed Consortia Research Platform on Farm Mechanisation and Precision Farming were displayed at AEC & RI premises.
Tractor operated check basin former, sugarcane cutter planter, corncob harvester, vegetable transplanter, pneumatic planter, drone sprayer, coconut tree climber, tomato and brinjal seed extractors, groundnut decorticator, pulse milling machine, solar dryers, forced combustible cookstove, biomass gasifier, biochar production unit, low cost filters and precision farming technologies viz., round basin irrigation and drip fertigation for coconut, plastic mulching, groundwater recharge in borewells, positive pressure cooling system in greenhouse and acid treatment, chlorination and oxygation in drip irrigation were demonstrated to the farmers. Around 520 farmers get benefited from the demonstration Mela.
At the valedictory function, Dr. A Raviraj, Dean (Engg.), in his special address, informed that the benefit of custom hiring centres operating in different districts may be availed by the farmers. Dr. P P Murugan, Director (Extension Education) insisted that domestic gadgets may be developed and popularised through KVKs’ spread over the state. Dr. M K Kalarani, Director (Crop Management) expressed her views about the availability of paddy machineries towards seed-to-seed mechanization and to purchase larger machineries through Farmers Producer Organizations and utilize on custom hiring basis.
Farmers appreciated the way in which the Mela was conducted. One of the farmers requested the organizers to conduct such melas at the district/block level too.
Dr. R Thamizh Vendan, Registrar, TNAU in his Presidential address, mentioned about the three major problems faced by the farmers viz., water scarcity, labour shortage and climate change which could be mitigated through farm mechanization. He insisted that the farmers must act as representative to carry the message about the machinery available at TNAU to other farmers. He distributed awards to the best progressive farmers in farm mechanisation.
While Dr. R Kavitha, Professor and Head (FM & PE) had welcomed the gathering, Dr. D Ramesh, Professor and Head (REE) proposed a vote of thanks to conclude the Mela.