Report on the ROVING SEMINAR (Climate-Weather-Farming), for agricultural
and poultry farmers conducted on 05.03.2010 by Integrated Agromet
Advisory Services, Namakkal
Roving seminar, the concept idea of the India Meteorological Department,
Ministry of Earth Sciences, GOI, for the benefit of the agricultural farmers of India was
conducted by Integrated Agromet Advisory Services, Animal Feed Analytical and
Quality Control Laboratory, VCRI, Namakkal on 05.03.2010 at Krishi Vigyan
Kendra, Namakkal for the North West Zone of Tamil Nadu. The concept of the Roving
Seminar is “Climate-Weather-Farming”.
The objective of the roving seminar is to create awareness among the farmers on
climate and farming with the help of coordinating departments. The seminar is of one day
event. Seventy eight farmers from Namakkal, Salem, Dharmapuri and Krishnngiri
districts attended.
The seminar was also attended by 30 technical persons. They included scientists
from Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal
Sciences University, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, service departments of Govt.
of Tamil Nadu, Namakkal, Non-governmental Organizations of Namakkal, Dr Perumal
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Krishnagiri.
The inauguration was presided over by Dr.C. Chandrahasan, Dean, Veterinary
College and Research Institute, Namakkal. Thiru. R. Asokan, Director (Agrimet),
Regional
Meteorological
Centre,
Chennai
was
the
chief
guest.
Dr.T.N.Balasubramanian, Retd., Professor and Founder Head of Department of
Agrometeorology, Agriculture College and Research Institute, TNAU, Coimbatore, was
the special invitee. Dr.R.Ravi, Nodal Officer, IAAS, Agro Met Field Unit, AFAQCL,
VC&RI, Namakkal welcomed the gathering, while Dr.A.Natarajan, Associate Professor
and T.O., of the scheme thanked. Dr.A.Kumaravel, Associate Professor, VC&RI,
Namakkal conducted the inaugural function.
Dr.T.N.Balasubramanian, in his special address spoke of development of
agrometeorology as a separate science in agriculture farming and differentiated between
climate and weather to the spectators. Accepting the momento and giving away NonRecording Rain Gauges to 5 farmers from 5 different places in Namakkal district,
Thiru.R.Asokan, Director, Agrimet, RMC, Chennai, expressed keen interest in extending
the advisory through improved fast dissemination methods like Short Message Services
(SMS) using Airtel or Idea communication facilities. Releasing the souvenir, in his
presidential address, Dean, emphasized the role of weather forecast in doing the precision
farming.
An exhibition on different aspects of agrometeorology was organized. A technical
session was arranged on weather and agriculture with 10 presentations from scientists
from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences
University, Krishi Vigyan Kendras of Namakkal, Salem, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri.
Note-worthy deliberations were made.
A farmer-scientist interaction session was conducted in the afternoon with the
financial assistance from Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA). eakers
who initiated. The session was moderated by Dr.T.N.Balasubramanian, Professor,
TNAU.
Farmers responded well and debated well with the participation of four KVKs,
Dr.Amanullah, Professor, Department of Agronomy, TNAU, Dr Sathyamurthy, Asst
Prof., ACRC, TNAU, Coimbatore. Many professors and state government officials were
present during the interaction. Conclusions were drawn.
Resolutions like preparation of pest and disease calendar for dairy animals, goats,
sheep and cattle, awareness on weather wise farming were recorded and informed to the
funding agency.
A fund of Rs. 35,000/- for the seminar was provided by India Meteorological
Department, Pune, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India and Rs. 20,000/- by
Agricultural Technology Management Agency, Namakkal for farmer-scientist
interaction.
Inauguration of Roving Seminar
Dr.C.Chandrahasan, Dean, VC&RI, Namakkal inaugurates the Exhibition
Farmers in Exhibition Hall