Minister Visits Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Witnesses Demo On Drone Technology

Tamil Nadu Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister M R K Panneerselvam on Wednesday inspected research activities, technologies and improved crop varieties developed by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) here. During the visit, the Minister declared open the vermicompost unit, pellatization of forage crops for production of nutritive fodder pellets for enhancing livestock productivity.

He inspected the ultra high density mango-planting and witnessed the demonstration of drone technology in agriculture for spraying pesticide and nutrients at TNAU orchard. The Minister visited the arid fruit zone orchard and also the renovated botanical garden at the university.

He was accompanied by the Vice-Chancellor of TNAU Dr N Kumar who gave a briefing on various activities of the university, an official press release said here. Research studies were conducted at the university utilising the capabilities of drone (unmanned aerial vehicle) technology in detecting health status of crops using sensors and delivering inputs as foliar spray in accordance with site-specific prescription with minimal labour requirement.

The digital technology of drone applications would revitalise agriculture besides attracting/retaining youth in farming to foster rural livelihood, the release said.

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