TIRUVARUR: A demonstrative cum interactive session on the Tamil Nadu Agriculture University Coconut Tree Climbers (TNAU Coconut Tree Climbers) for nearly 30 agriculture extension officers, was arranged at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) at Needamangalam in the district recently. The aim of the session was to popularise coconut climbing among farmers who face problems of non-availability of professional coconut climbers.
In the session, coconut tree climbing was demonstrated using the TNAU coconut tree climber, designed and produced by the Univerity. The climber has two frames one upper and lower and is connected by a belt while the climber is on the tree.
According to Dr.T.Senguttuvan, Professor and Head of KVK, Needamangalam and Dr.M.Ramasubramanian, Subject Matter Specialist, Agriculture extension of the KVK, climbing up of coconut trees is a cumbersome process that can be performed only by professionals . A climber can climb only up 40 to 50 trees per day as the task consumes a lot of their energy. . In the delta region, farmers face problems such as non-availability of professional climbers and rate for climbing up a single tree ranges from Rs. 20 to Rs. 60 . “In such a situation, popularising TNAU coconut climbers may be of much use to coconut farmers. It will help small farmers as well as people who own 15 to 20 coconut trees in the backyard of their houses”, Mr.Senguttuvan said. The TNAU coconut tree climber helps the climbers to climb up easily.
Agriculture extension officers including Joint director, Deputy directors and assistant directors, who participated in the session, assured to popularise the device among farmers. “Farm mechanisation is inevitable in view of labour shortage. Government is also giving thrust to farm mechanisation. KVK, Needamangalam, has already popularised mechanisation in paddy and sugarcane,” Mr. Senguttuvan said.
learning the ropes: A demonstrator climbing up the coconut tree at the Tamil Nadu Agriculture University's Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Needamangalam in Tiruvarur.
FONTE: The Hindu - Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 19, 2010
http://hindu.com/
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