The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : More knowledge centres planned in Pudukottai

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Monday, Jul 21, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

More knowledge centres planned in Pudukottai

Staff Reporter

“Sensitise farmers to
the need for increasing farm productivity”
Scientist happy that
‘kudi maramathu’
is being revived

PUDUKOTTAI: The M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation will set up village knowledge centres in all village panchayats in Pudukottai district in two years, chairman M. S. Swaminathan said Saturday.

Speaking after distributing certificates to those who underwent computer training under the ‘Micro-soft Unlimited Potential Project’ of the foundation at its village resource centre at Annavasal, he said now the foundation had village knowledge centres at Parambur, Melapatti, Mazhaiyur, Merpanaikadu, Meivazhisalai, Vamban Naal Road, Malaikudipatti, Onankudi, Arimalam, Kallalangudi, Rajalaipatti and Athani.

Responding to the plea of district tree growers’ association treasurer G. S. Dhanapathy for more such centres, Dr. Swaminathan said the foundation would launch a centre in each village panchayat in the district.

Highlighting the need for applying science in agriculture and fishing, Dr. Swaminathan pointed to the success of the village knowledge centres in the coastal villages of Puducherry, where fishermen were sensitised to the relationship between the nature of tides and their safety and the quantum of fish available in a particular zone.

Dr. Swaminathan expressed his fear that the whole world might have to grapple with a food crisis. And inflation was on the rise in India. Resource persons such as the beneficiaries of the village knowledge centres and extension personnel, including those accredited with the National Virtual Academy Fellowship through the foundation, should sensitise villagers and farmers to the importance of enhancing farm productivity. He was happy that the ancient system of ‘kudi maramathu’ was being revived. He appealed to the villagers to make the most of government schemes.

National Virtual Academy Fellow R. Anbazhagan, and E. Bhavani, resource person of the village knowledge centre at Merpanaikadu, explained how the centres had impacted the lifestyle of the people in the 12 villages. R. Rajkumar, project co-ordinator of the centre at Annavasal, said 180 persons had undergone the three-month training. With this, the number of beneficiaries had risen to 1,288, including 765 women.

Guide released

Dr. Swaminathan also released a guide on the schemes sponsored by the Agriculture Department.

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