TNAU is one of the premiere centres for excellence in agricultural research education and extension institute in India. TNAU is one among the participating line departments in TN-IAMWARM project and is implemented through its constituent colleges, research stations and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) spread over the entire Tamil Nadu. The Director, Water Technology Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore is the Nodal officer for the project.


Objectives of TNAU:

• Large scale adoption of specific technologies such as SRI in paddy, Drip Fertigation in sugarcane, coconut, tapioca etc., to increase productivity in crops.
• Provide information on Price forecasting and market intelligence to develop market access.
• Increased crop area by diversification with maize, pulses and sunflower.
• Seed Village Concept will be supported to produce and supply quality seed and seedlings for diversified agricultural practices.
• Provide necessary trainings through various centres / research stations of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University to the farmers and other stakeholders for capacity building

Issues Confronting Agriculture in River Sub basins:

• Stagnation in productivity of cereals.
• Poor adoption of SRI practices in different zones of Tamil Nadu.
• Poor adoption of Micro-Irrigation Systems in respect of commercial crops like Banana, Coconut and Sugarcane.
• Lack of crop diversification.
• Lack of timely labour for agricultural operations.
• Absence of quality-seeds of principal crops.
• Lack of knowledge on potential markets and the current prices, are the common issues observed in different Sub basins.

Activities of TNAU:

• To accomplish the objectives and to solve the issues detailed above, the following principal activities are going to be carried out by the TNAU.
• Precision Farming Techniques in fruit and vegetable crops.
• Crop Diversification with less water and more market access crops.
• Demo on SRI in Rice.
• Drip Fertigation in Banana, Sugarcane and Coconut.
• Agribusiness and Farm Advisory Cell for price-forecasting information.
• Model Seed Village Concept to generate good quality and hybrid seeds.

System of Rice Intensification (SRI)

The SRI is an alternative to the traditional way of flooded rice cultivation and is showing promise in addressing the problems of watar scarcity, high energy usage and environmental degradation. SRI was popularized through exposure visits, unique flagging, organization of tillering mela, harvest mela. etc. Successful SRI demonstrations were conducted in 1299 ha which had a spread in 2380 ha as impact area in the I phase. It has been planned to cover 2581 hectares under SRI demonstration during the II phase.

Improved production technology in Oilseeds crops – Groundnut, Gingelly, Sunflower and Castor

Groundnut is an important oilseed crop in Tamil Nadu and it is cultivated in 7.0 lakh hectares. Hence, adequate attention was bestowed on this crop by TNAU in the I phase sub basins and improved groundnut production technology demonstrations were laid in 337 hectares and the benefits were perceived in another .1252 hectares. In the second phase, it has been planned to conduct groundnut demonstrations in 520 hectares. Sunflower is the appropriate oilseed crop for the water stressed state of Tamil Nadu and the water requirement for the crop is just 400 mm only. Moreover, the crop had excellent market opportunities. Hence, to popularize the crop, improved sun flower demonstrations were conducted in 35 ha which had a spread in 100. ha. In the second phase, efforts are being made to conduct demonstrations in 149 hectares. Incase of gingelly crop, successful demonstrations were conducted in 46 hectares (I Phase) and it has been planned to cover 54 Ha. in second phase of the project. In Tamil Nadu, Castor crop is now emerging as a potential oilseed crop.and the prevailing weather conditions provide excellent growing conditions. Hence, in the TN-IAMWARM project, demonstrations on improved castor production technologies were laid in 75 ha with Caster hybrid TMVCH 1. The crop establishment was so convincing and lead to self perpetuating effect which culminated in area expansion (impact area) in 205 ha. Marketing tie-up with private sector pharmaceuticals was felicitated through TN-IAMWARM project by TNAU

Mechanized maize production technology:

Maize was another focus crop in the sub basin and successful demonstrations were laid in 398 ha which had an influence area in 1795 ha. In the second phase it has been planned to conduct maize demonstrations in 452 hectares. Market tie-up arrangements with M/s. Suguna poultry farms Ltd were facilitated to benefit the farmers of Palar and Upper Vellar sub basins.

Pulses production technology:

Tamil Nadu is a pulses deficit state and mismatch exists between the demand of pulses and supply and the gap is being bridged by the other state’s arrivals. Owing to the seriousness of this issue, it has been planned to popularize pulses production technology by TNAU under IAMWARM project and demonstrations were laid in 152 ha during the first phase. In the second phase, demonstrations would be laid in 713 ha. Also attention was bestowed to the pulses crops grown under rice fallows. In the I phase, demonstrations were laid in 695 ha under rice fallow pulses category and for the II phase, demonstrations will be laid in 2581 hectares.

Improved production technology in Cotton:

The Cotton is one of the important commercial crops in Tamil Nadu and hence large scale demonstration on cotton hybrids were conducted in an area of 120 ha. in first phase of the project. For the second phase, demonstrations for improved production technology in cotton crop would be conducted in 160 ha .

Precision farming:

Demonstration on precision farming in sugarcane (198 hectares), banana (10 hectares), tapioca (100 hectares), coconut (600 hectares), and vegetables (20 hectares), were conducted during I phase of the project. In the second phase, precision farming demonstrations would be conducted in sugarcane (237 hectares), banana (65 hectares), tapioca (50 hectares), coconut (1050 hectares), vegetables (200 hectares), flowers (10 hectares) and high value capsicum (5 hectares).

Intercropping of cocoa in coconut:

Coconut is one of a principal edible oil crop in Tamil Nadu and in order increase the farm income, introduction of cocoa as a intercrop in the coconut plantations was contemplated. Accordingly, 100 hectares of coconut crops were covered in the I phase of the project and 500 hectares of such demonstrations would be laid during the II phase. Market tie-up for cocoa planted farmers and M/s Cadburry India Ltd, Pollachi was felicitated.

Casuarina Saucer Planting method:

Casuarina is a nodulating nitrogen fixing tree highly suitable for nutrient deprived soils and water stressed environment. Hence, this is an appropriate crop for this sub basin. TNAU has introduced a saucer method of Casuarina planting with a prime objective of moisture conservation and reduction of seedling mortality especially during the initial stage of establishment. Moreover, this method requires less number of seedlings than the conventional method of Casuarina planting. Casuarina Saucer planting Demonstrations were laid in 63 hectares in Pambar sub basin during the I phase and it has been planned to lay demonstrations in 40 hectares during the II phase. Market tie-up arrangements were made with M/s. Greencare Ltd, Pudukottai and TNPL were facilitated.

Introduction of Thornless Bamboo:

Introduction of high value crops would certainly increase the farm revenue and to reap the benefit of new crops, TNAU has introduced thornless bamboo in the Varahanadhi sub basin for the first time during I phase and demonstrations were laid in 20 ha in Mathur Thirukai village. On seeing the crop’s performance, it has spread in another 20 ha. In the II phase of the project, demonstration would be laid in 70 hectares

Model village:

In the model village concept, Quality seed production in focus crops, demonstration on organic farming and training and skill development to farmers were given emphasis. Demonstrations were conducted in 180 hectares during I phase and it was planned to conduct demonstrations in 200 hectares during II phase.