The Departmentof Biotechnology in the Union Ministry of Science and Technology has providedfunds to Coimbatore-based Tamil Nadu Agricultural University to set up abiotechnology-KISAN hub under its farmers-centric mission Biotech-KrishiInnovation Science Application Network (Biotech-KISAN) programe to link India’sfarmers with Indian and global best in science.
The hub has a low cost hydrponic demonstration unit, silage makingfacility, moisture meter, a nutritional forage cafeteria and a power back upfacility to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the demonstration unit. Thehub has been established at a cost of Rs. 11.14 lakhs at the Department ofForage Crops in the Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics at the University.
Sixscientists from the partnering institutes were selected and trained on improvedfodder varieties and its cultivation and preservation.
Seedand planting materials of several improved fodder crops -- Fodder Sorghum CO(FS) 29, Fodder Maize (African Tall), Stylosanthus,Desmanthus (CO2), Lucerne(CO 2), Fodder Cowpea (CO 9), Cumbu Napier (CO (BN) 5), Guinea grass (CO (GG)3) and Cenchrus(CO 1) were distributed to the partnering institutes towards theestablishment of nutritional fodder cafeteria. In addition, they have beensupplied with vacuum machines for creating silage making facility.
Twentybeneficiaries from the nearby Erode and Tiruppur districts were selected (10from each district) based on an extensive survey conducted by the hub. Theseed/ planting materials of improved fodder crops were distributed to thesebeneficiaries also for the establishment of nutritional fodder cafeteria intheir areas.
(IndiaScience Wire)
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