On Saturday, the state government announced that the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) in Coimbatore will provide undergraduate and postgraduate agricultural and horticulture programs in Tamil.
The government has put aside a total of Rs. 25 lakh for the first phase of the initiative. This is the first time the institution has offered a Tamil undergraduate program.
According to N Kumar, vice-chancellor of TNAU Coimbatore, an expert group would be formed to develop the curriculum for these programs, which might be provided as early as the next academic year.
While undergraduate programs are solely provided in English, the institution also offers Tamil-language diploma programs in agriculture and horticulture. According to Kumar, the Institute of Agriculture at Vamban, near Pudukottai, also provides diploma programs in Tamil.
He said that students in Tamil medium schools will gain the most from these programs. Individuals with degrees in Tamil are given particular consideration in state government positions, and a similar preference for candidates pursuing these programs will encourage more students to enroll in these programs, Kumar noted.
On Saturday, the government announced the establishment of a research center named after organic farming advocate and scientist Nammazhvar. This center will conduct organic farming research and will be established by extending TNAU's current department of sustainable organic agriculture. The state government has allocated Rs. 3 crore to upgrade the department of sustainable organic agriculture, and the department's current operations would be expanded, according to the VC.
Kumar called the agricultural-only budget a good start, and added that more funding in the coming years will aid in the formulation of a long-term sustainable agriculture strategy.
