Tamil Nadu   

Initiative taken to promote organic farming, horticulture

To propagate the cultivation of medicinal plants and organic farming among farmers, Sri AVVM Pushpam College at Poondi near Thanjavur has developed an experimental garden. S. Balu, principal of the college, said the Medicinal Plants Board of the Union Ministry of Health had sanctioned Rs.10 lakhs for the project.

Organic farming is the speciality of the research garden. Vermicompost is prepared in the garden and used as the basal fertiliser for the plants. Panchakavya is also prepared in the garden and used. "We use the waste from hostels to prepare organic fertilisers and use them. Hence, there is no littering inside the college campus," Dr. Balu said.

The garden on 5.5 acres has ladies finger cultivated using organic farming. "Ladies finger is an effective medicine for diabetes. Diabetics can drink the water in which two or three ladies fingers have been soaked," Dr. Balu said. The other medicinal plants in the garden are `nilavembu' (Andrographis paniculata) called `syria nangai' and `periya nangai' in Tamil, which can cure cobra venom, `avuri' (Indigotera trinctoria), which increases soil fertility and provides indigo dye, aloe vera, `raja vilvam' etc. A building has also been constructed in the garden to train farmers in organic farming and medicinal plant cultivation.

It was a personality development programme with a difference.

Usually such a programme conducted on the campus of a higher educational institution usually aims at developing the communication skills, aptitude etc. of students. But, what set apart this programme conducted by the Department of Management Studies of Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Engineering College at Perambalur on Wednesday was that the training was meant for district officials.

Each of them was given an objective-type question paper, which was one of the yardsticks used to ascertain their skills and aptitude.

A. Tirunavukkarasu, Director, Research and Development, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan College of Arts and Science for Women, explained the objective of the programme. The focus would be on further developing the skills of the officials in communication and public relations, he said.

K. Yoganand, Management Studies lecturer, said it was a novel experience for the Tahsildars and Block Development Officers to answer the questions. A programme titled `Management Games' was organised to motivate the officials to further tone up their administrative capabilities.

Thirty officials from the Revenue and Rural Development Departments underwent the training.

A. Srinivasan, founder, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Educational Instituions, B.M. Krishnamoorthy, principal of the college, and E. Pappan, head, Department of Management Studies, spoke.

G. Srinivasan
in Thanjavur, and
M. Balaganessin
in Tiruchi)

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