AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

Technology Dissemination Project
Centrally sponsored
Field Farm School
Years: 2013-2014 and 2014-2015.
Under technology dissemination project, training and field demonstration were conducted in all the 12 blocks by the TNAU and KVK organised by COODU. Farmers were grouped in 24 batches each comprising 25 farmers.Farmers were trained on intensive cultivation of maize, groundnut, tomato,brinjal,snakegourd,banana,watermelon,greengram,bitter gourd and onion. Topics on animal husbandry and sericulture were taken up by experts and farmers were trained on it.
The Approach Was Seed To Seed.
Field demonstrations were conducted between Feb 2013 and April 2014. Sixtysix resource persons from the TNAU, KVK and representatives of local bodies conducted the trainings organised by COODU. The modules used were lecture, demonstration and on hand experience. Nurseries were raised in 50% shades and after 35-50days, seedlings were planted. Fertigation is practiced to conserve water. Under precision farming, the crops have extended life comparatively. Under Animal husbandry, training on calf rearing, infertility and its cure, pure milk production methods, disease& communicable disease control and management, external & internal parasite control & management and fodder crop management were imparted to dairy farmers. Sericulture; Training on cultivation of mulberry plantation, referred to as moriculture was given. Training on silk rearing was imparted.

TN-IAMWARM Project– PWD/WRD - Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) in Gundar Basin

The integrated agriculture management of water bodies and restoration management project (IAMWARM) is one of the flagship programme of the Government of Tamil Nadu to disseminate information on best practices in Agriculture and equip various stakeholders such as farmers, labourers etc., in skills related to water management, conservation measures, environment development etc., Peopled with agriculture officers, horticulture officers, environment engineers, agricultural engineers, agro - economists etc., from various departments, the IAMWARM project is being implemented in all river basins of the state. The organizations had already conducted awareness campaign among farmers and other stakeholders to create awareness on pollution in water bodies as well as agricultural land in the Gundar division. Under the project, the organization has been assigned the districts of Madurai, Virudhunagar and Theni, where 70 Water Users Associations have been formed. The organization has been chosen as the support organization under this World Bank aided project. The organization has the capacity and experience in capacity building and training to various stakeholders including farmers agricultural labourers and elected representatives for Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) in the sub basins of Upper Vaigai, Varattar, Nagalar, Upper Gundar, SindapalliUppodai, Therkar&Senkottaiar lying in the districts of Madurai, Virudhunagar and Theni under the Superintending Engineer, Vaippar Basin Circle, Virudhunagar.

Familiarisation With The Areas And The People

The personnel collected data on the project areas, water resources, cropping pattern and the existing WUAs. The personnel also familiarised with opinion leaders/ change agents / animators / lead farmers/ women lead farmers in the command areas at village level to function on a permanent basis for organizing farmers for effective functioning of WUAs6.

Formation of Sub- Committees

After the formation/ strengthening of the WUAs, the personnel initiated the formation of sub committees. The project personnel also conducted meetings at the WUA level for the TC members and WUA members regarding the role of the sub committees. As per TNFMIS Act, the following sub committees were formed.
1. Finance and resource sub committee
2. Work sub committee
3. Water management sub committee
4. Monitoring, evaluation and training sub committee
• Cropping pattern, input supply, processing and marketing of agricultural produce, organised and imparted to WUA members • Water budgets for each WUA prepared and water distribution schedule drawn up • Continuous interaction with farmers in every WUA to share information has been arranged

Coconut Development Programme

In August, 2018, MARICO Ltd., a leading FMCG company, asked COODU to implement water resources project in water scarce, rain fed areas for individual coconut farmers. Executing an agreement, the Organisation executed the following works with the consent of farmers, who came forward to contribute their share.
i. Water Resources Development: Formation of Farm Ponds in the coconut plantations of 51 farmers
ii. Soil and Moisture Conservation Measures: Trench cum bund and Ring bund in the farms of 458 farmers.

Workshop On Natural And Alternative Farming

COODU organized a workshop on Natural and Alternative Farming in Ramanathapuram with financial assistance from the DRDA- Ramanathapuram with the participation of Dr. Nammalvar, a natural scientist and practicing farmer and attended by representatives from all watershed areas in Ramanathapuram District. The objective was to sensitise and motivate the farmers/ representatives attending the workshop and to propagate/ disseminate information/ practices in Natural and Alternative farming.

Jatropha Plantation Under Sgry

Recognizing the importance of bio-fuels, COODU has assisted small and marginalized farmers to establish Jatropha plantations in 7,500 acres of land in both watershed and non-watershed areas in Coimbatore district in association with the DRDA, Coimbatore.

Water Stewardship Programme - Soil And Water Conservation

Under Water Stewardship Programme in Karamadai block, for the growth of Agriculture and Allied Sectors, the following works were executed by COODU, with support from ITC from 2015 to 2019.