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The Hindu
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Horti Utsav 2025 celebration at TNAU highlights blend of traditional and modern techniques for productivity
Display of innovative horticultural models, covering a spectrum of topics like integrated vertical farming systems, hydroponics setups, rooftop kitchen gardens, innovative post-harvest technologies, processing units for value addition, and sustainable irrigation modules constituted the major highlight of Horti Utsav 2025 hosted by the Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, on Thursday. The exhibition with the tagline 'Cultivating Dreams, Harvesting Success' reflected the students' understanding of the blend of traditional and modern techniques aimed to improve farm productivity, reduction of environmental pollution, minimising wastage and to open avenues for entrepreneurial ventures, K. Venkatesan, Dean (Horticulture) said. The Utsav was a celebration to express the potential of horticultural innovation in modern livelihoods, entrepreneurship, and sustainable horticulture under the dynamic theme 'Farm to Fortune', acting Vice-Chancellor and Registrar R. Tamizhvendan said in his inaugural address. He emphasised the importance of nurturing young minds and fostering platforms where traditional practices harmoniously coexist with technological advancements, positioning horticulture as a key contributor to future-ready agriculture and enterprise. Presiding over the event, B. Augustine Gerard, Project Coordinator, ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) - All India Coordinated Research Project (Palms), Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod, Kerala, the chief guest, said Horticulture was playing a pivotal role in sustaining agriculture and empowering national economy. A one-day cultural extravaganza featured 21 events reflecting the versatility and vibrancy of horticulture-inspired expression. They included nine onstage performances such as Choreo Clash, Classical Solo, and Horti Quiz. The 12 offstage events included Fallen Flora, Art of a Slice, Horti Invents, and Horti Sabha.
India Today
26-05-2025
- Science
- India Today
Stingless bees can increase crop yields by 29%, shows Nagaland University research
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, researchers at Nagaland University have been able to demonstrate how stingless bees can boost crop output and quality through pollination -- without the stinging to the research, fruit set in king chilli increased to 29.46% from 21% with these bees as the the common chilli (Capsicum annuum), fruit development in healthy condition increased by nearly 8%, and seed weight, an indicator of enhanced germination, increased by over 60%.advertisementThe team, led by Dr Avinash Chauhan, All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Honeybees & Pollinators' Principal Investigator, discovered that the two species of stingless bees, namely Tetragonula iridipennis and Lepidotrigona arcifera, not only improved fruit production but also improved seed viability in chilli and king IS THIS RESEARCH IMPORTANT? Dr Chauhan further stated that this technique is meant to fill the gap of pollination in crops, especially where honeybee use is emphasised the need to preserve other pollinators like Apis dorsata, Apis florea, halictid and syrphid bees. Honey being extracted from stingless bees as part of a study conducted by Nagaland University advertisement"The last 7 to 10 years of research gave us strong results. We not only had more crop yields, but the honey from these bees also generated extra income," Dr Chauhan added."We're working on improving beekeeping practices and promoting awareness regarding the conservation of wild pollinators," he crops on which the research was carried out are cucumber, watermelon, citrus, tomato, brinjal, and dragon isolated and duplicated stingless bee colonies from forest areas native to them into scientific hives and then these hives were planted in open fields as well as greenhouses. ABOUT STINGLESS BEESStingless bees are widespread in the North East, South and Eastern parts of India. Scientific domestication of stingless bees has been done in Nagaland and subsequently extended to Meghalaya and Arunachal research is an important step towards sustainable agriculture and conservation of pollinators. Future research will further explore the pharmaceutical value of stingless bee honey and examine other lesser-researched crops like passion fruit and chow chow.
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
TNAU makes progress in developing parameters to determine desired character in offspring of worker bees
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), under the aegis of All India Coordinated Research Project on Honeybees and Pollinators, has made progress in developing parameters to arrive at desired character in off-springs of worker bees. Over the last two years, researchers in the Department of Agricultural Entomology have standardised the age in the lifespan of worker bee when the semen production is high. Research in artificial/instrumental insemination was currently progress, the success of which would pave the way for honey-producers to be assured of desired character of off-springs, said V.R. Saminathan, Professor of Entomology and Principal Investigator for All India Coordinated Research Project for Honey Bees and Pollinators. The project also covered molecular identification to address the Thai sacbrood virus (TSBV), which posed a major threat to honey bee colonies in South India, and research on strain variation in honey bees, Prof. Saminathan said. During December, 2024, the TNAU conducted a State-level training offered by the National Bee Board on various essential aspects of Bee keeping: Identification of bee species and social organisation of bees; Rearing Indian bees in boxes, general and seasonal management; Bee forage, yield increase of crops through cross pollination; Honey extraction; and Enemies and diseases of bees and their management. The TNAU Agritech portal states that the production of apiary honey in the country has reached 10,000 tons, valued at ₹300 million. In Tamil Nadu, raw honey is mostly procured from Janunamarudhur in Tiruvannamalai district and Marthandam in Kanyakumar district. The government provides financial support by supplying bee-hives to the tribals on hill areas, SC/ST under Western Ghats Development programme and Integrated Tribal Development Programme. The Central Government had, during November 2020, initiated the Honey FPO programme of National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED). The TNAU, on its part, had been reaching out to farmers through monthly-training programmes to initiate them into producing bee wax, propolis, royal jelly, and bee venom. So far, at least 8000 farmers in Tamil Nadu had undergone training in bee keeping at TNAU, Prof. Saminathan said. On May 20, the TNAU celebrated the World Bee Day on the theme: 'Bee inspired by nature to nourish us all', highlighting the critical roles bees and other pollinators play in agrifood systems.
Hindustan Times
21-05-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: PAU bags best centre award for seed technology research
Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has been conferred with the best centre award for its outstanding contributions in seed technology research under the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Seed (Crops). The honour was presented by ML Jat, director general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), during the inaugural session of the Virtual Annual Group Meet held on May 14 to 15. This national recognition highlights the varsity's role in strengthening the seed sector through research and innovative technologies. Among the key achievements that earned PAU the top honour are the optimisation of grading sieve aperture sizes for new crop varieties, improved crop establishment through advanced seed treatment techniques, development of molecular markers for hybrid purity testing, revalidation of seed certification periods for field crops, and the standardisation of diagnostic methods to detect seed-borne pathogens. Apart from its research breakthroughs, PAU's seed unit has been instrumental in producing and supplying high-quality breeder, foundation, and certified seeds. These seeds meet the demands of farmers and seed agencies across Punjab, contributing to improved crop performance and overall agricultural productivity.
Mint
13-05-2025
- Climate
- Mint
Southwest monsoon rolls into Andaman and Nicobar region, two days in advance
The Southwest monsoon advanced into some parts of south Bay of Bengal, south Andaman Sea, Nicobar Islands and some parts of north Andaman Sea on Tuesday, two days ahead of schedule, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director general of India Meterological Department (), said. The normal date for the advancement of monsoon over the Andaman region is 15 May. The southwest monsoon is progressing as expected and is crucial to India's agrarian economy, as it delivers nearly 70% of the country' annual rainfall. Also, 51% of the country's net sowing area is dependent on monsoon rains. As per the ministry of agriculture & farmers' welfare data, the net sown area was 141 million hectares in 2021-22. Also read: Cyclone 'Shakti': IMD says southwest monsoon advances, 'cyclonic circulation lay over Andaman Sea' According to Mohapatra, with the current development, monsoon rains are expected to hit Kerala on 27 May, five days earlier than usual, as predicted earlier. Last year, the monsoon reached the coast of Kerala on 30 May. Also, according to IMD, conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon over some parts of south Arabian Sea, Maldives & Comorin area, some more parts of south Bay of Bengal, entire Andaman & Nicobar Islands, remaining parts of Andaman Sea, and some parts of central Bay of Bengal during the next 3-4 days. The expected arrival of monsoon this year on 27 May, the earliest in 6 years, has raised hopes for bumper harvests of Kharif crops such as rice, maize, cotton, soybean and other oilseeds, say agriculture experts. The early rains would ensure adequate soil moisture, which improves seed germination and plant growth, leading to better crop yields. Plentiful rains will boost rural sentiment and increases agricultural income. 'A lot depends on how monsoon progresses and its spread across the country. If it is evenly spread, then it will definitely boost the area under cultivation," said S.S. Johal, agriculture economist. Also read: Early monsoon in India sparks hopes for bumper harvests, easing inflation "If the monsoon is going to strike early, that means farmers will go for sowing early. So, the availability of seeds and fertilizers will have to be ensure accordingly," said Anand Vishwakarma, project coordinator, All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Sesame and Niger, Jabalpur. However, if the monsoon stalls, or there is an uneven distribution of rains, it would hurt kharif crops, he added. Additionally, early rains reduce the dependence on irrigation, helping farmers save on the costs of diesel and electricity. This is especially beneficial for small and marginal farmers who often struggle with access to irrigation. Further, an early monsoon can also replenish water levels in reservoirs, and groundwater sources, supporting not only agriculture but also drinking water supplies and hydroelectric power generation. "A good start to the monsoon boosts area under cultivation, which can further boost the labour market, rental market and input sales such as seed and fertilisers. Also, if monsoon is early, then farmers get enough time to plan and execute things," said Vijay Sardana, a farm commodity expert. Also read: Rains lash parts of Delhi, brings respite from scorching heat; IMD issues yellow alert for north India, national capital Early monsoon in India brings several significant benefits to agriculture, which is a primary livelihood for an around 55% of the population. On 15 April, IMD said that India is expected to receive an above-normal monsoon from June to September this year. The southwest monsoon seasonal rainfall over the country as a whole during 2025 is most likely to be above normal (>104% of the Long Period Average (LPA)). In a separate update, private forecaster Skymet on 9 April said the country will likely receive normal monsoon rain in 2025 at 103% (give or take 5%) of the long-period average (LPA) of 868.6mm for June to September. The spread of normal monsoon is 96-104% of LPA. Buoyed by an above-normal monsoon forecast, the Centre has set a record foodgrain production target of 354.64 million tonnes for the crop year 2025-26. This new record level is 3.8% or 13 million tonnes more than the 341.55 mt foodgrain production recorded in 2024-25.
