It's back to school for TN farmers

COIMBATORE: If you are a potato farmer, you can now learn to make your own brand of chips — and get a bachelor’s degree in farm technology too. Everything, from using the right seeds to the best harvesting technology and making tasty finger chips will now be taught to farmers in Tamil Nadu through a three-year degree programme in Tamil.
For the first time in the country, the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) is offering a degree programme for farmers who have dropped out of schools.All that the farmers need is a school leaving certificate that shows that they have appeared for class X exam.
‘‘Those who have appeared for class X examination and are 30 years or above can apply,’’ said Dr V Valluva Paridasan, director, open and distance education, TNAU. The programme has already found quite a few takers. As many as 175 farmers have already applied for the course and admissions are open till November-end.
One of them is 38-year-old D Ravishankar, who has taken 24 acres of land on lease at Thalavady near Sathyamangalam in Erode district and grows water melons along with his partner. ‘‘I have to run from pillar to post for the right pesticide or the right seed to use. I want to get into hi-tech farming. I am sure the course will give me the correct information on farming,’’ he said.
The six-semester bachelor’s degree in farm technology (BFTech) programme will include courses on agriculture, horticulture, soil science and seed technologies among others.