Helping farmers overcome challenges, enabling the State meet food and nutritional security and assisting students to turn entrepreneurs would be the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University(TNAU)’s priorities in her tenure, Vice-Chancellor V. Geethalakshmi said at a press meet held here on Friday.
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Ms. Geethalakshmi said Tamil Nadu was dependent on neighbouring States for water for irrigation. One of the ways the TNAU could help the State overcome the water shortage was through introduction of less water consuming varieties. The other was by improving soil health through integrated nutrition management as fertilizer application over the years had led to imbalance in soil health.
The third way the University would play a role was through introduction of new technologies like nanotechnology and drone in fertilizer application, Ms. Geethalakshmi said.
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On the research and academic side, the TNAU would explore possibilities of collaborative research with other institutions of national and international eminence and interdisciplinary research.
As for students, the TNAU would assist them to turn entrepreneurs and not remain job seekers.
The University had already made considerable contribution in helping farmers by suggesting crops suitable to their soil, issuing weather advisory and giving price forecast. It would strengthen those in the coming years.