BackTraining Program on “Recent Advances in Garlic Production Systems & Utilization of Sheep Manure in Garlic Farming” at SRRC, Mannavanur on 22nd March

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Southern Regional Research Centre (SRRC) of ICAR-Central Sheep & Wool Research Institute (CSWRI), Mannavanur, organized a one day Training Program on “Recent Advances in Garlic Production Systems & Utilization of Sheep Manure in Garlic Farming” on 22.03.2019 in which more than 100 farmers belonging to Schedule caste, from Mannavanur and surrounding villages participated. The program was sponsored by Govt. of India under the Schedule Castes Sub-plan program of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Dr. A. K. Tomar, Hon’ble Director, ICAR-CSWRI, Avikanagar encouraged & motivated to organize the program at SRRC, Mannavanur.  Purpose of the training was to inculcate knowledge about the recent advancements in Garlic farming, which is predominant cash crop in the Kodaikanal hills. Garlic produced in the area is having its own market niche owing to its medicinal properties and Geographic Indication tag for Garlic production in this area is also under process.

The program was inaugurated by Mr. M. Sivasethupathi, Manager, Punjab National Bank, Mannavanur and Dr. A. Kesavan, Medical Officer of Primary Health Centre, Mannavanur & Mr. M. Saravanakumar, Post-Graduate Teacher of GHSS, Mannavanur were the Guests of Honour. Mr. B. Raja Murugan, Assistant Director (Hort.) and Mr. L. Karthikeyan, Manager, ATMA, form Tamil Nadu Horticulture Department delivered lectures to the trainees on various crucial facets of Garlic Farming. Earlier, the Officer In-charge, SRRC, Mannavanur, Dr. A. S. Rajendiran, welcomed the guests and trainees; presented with the need and scope of the training program. Scientific personnel of the centre garnered the participants’ attention towards the utilization of manure obtained at Sheep & Rabbits farms, with practical paraphernalia available at the centre’s farm. Parallel to this, poster exhibition explaining about the general information about SRRC, various Sheep and Rabbit breeds was displayed in the vicinity of the venue. Working lunch and session teas were provided to all the participants.

Providing training on Garlic, to the economically backward, schedule caste farmers would be very useful for a formidable improvement in their livelihoods and the training program traversed on its righteous avenue of attaining the objectives, avidly. The training program was greeted by Mr Gagandeep Singh Bedi, IAS, Principal Secretary& Agriculture Production Commissioner, Govt. of Tamil Nadu, Dr. Md. Uthuman, Additional Director, Animal Husbandry Dept., Dr. C. Balachandran, Vice-Chancellor, TANUVAS, Mr. T. G. Vinay, IAS, District Collector, Dindigul etc.