Two TNAU research scholars get Prime Minister’s fellowships

COIMBATORE: Two

research scholars

in the

nano

science & technology department at Tamil Nadu Agriculture University (

TNAU

) in Coimbatore have bagged fellowships under the Prime Minister's Research Fellows (

PMRF

) Scheme for their doctoral programmes in cutting-edge technologies involving industries and academia.

D Pradeep is working on reducing the amount of fertilizer used by the farmers as it contaminates the soil and water bodies. His research topic is “Nano-fertiliser formulation for drone-enabled smart delivery system.”

“Through aerial spray of fertilisers using drone enabled delivery systems, the amount of fertiliser required can be brought down and plants can absorb the fertiliser through its leaves,” said Pradeep.

S Shanmugapriya, whose research topic is “Nano-bio hybrid to manage plant nematode – fungal pathogens” also got the fellowship. Her research work is on identifying biodegradable molecule as active ingredients for vegetable plants that neutralise nematode or warms and fungal pathogens using nano – bio hybrid technology. “Such active ingredients are selected in such a way that it will not affect the human body,” she said.

The PMRF scheme was designed to improve the quality of research in higher educational institutions by attracting the best talent into research. Those selected under the fellowship are eligible to get a fellowship of Rs 70,000 per month for the next four years. Besides this, a research grant of Rs 2 lakh per year will be provided to each.