Global COE Program - Kyoto University - In Search of Sustainable Humanosphere in Asia and Africa

Rural Economic Changes and Tank Management in Tamil Nadu

Conducted survey in the tank command areas. We have identified problems in the tank command areas and how tanks are helps to improve the rural economy of the people.The study were conducted the impact of tank modernisation programme ,which was done EEC and finaly framing policies for tank command areas for future development. This studies are conducted at Madurai, Ramnad , Sivagangai, Virudunagar districts of Tamil Nadu, have more number of tanks situated in the wider geographical areas. So these districts were selected for the collaborative projects.More than 100 tanks were so far studied with the collaboration with Kyoto university. There is need to study more tanks in the future. This will helps to understand the problems and prospects of the rural community who depends tank as their livelihood.

Impact of tank modernization programme on tank performance in Tamil Nadu state

Studied the impact of EEC modernized with relation to socio-economic condition of farmers,and compare the modernized with non modernized tanks with the relevance to their performance

Poverty alleviation through Goat rearing

On going Kyoto universities doctoral research programme at Siddireddipatti village in Madurai district of Tamil Ndu.In this study to assess the profile of the village people and how goats are helpful to sustaining the village peoples livelihood

Impact of Integrated Waste Land Development Programme on Farmer Beneficiaries

(R.Arunachalam, Asoociate professor (Ag. Extn), Tamil Nadu Agrl. University, India)

In Madurai district of Tamil Nadu, India, land degradation and increased level of wasteland are turned out to be the important problems in agriculture.The cultivable waste and other fallow lands together constitute over 23.31 per cent of the total geographical area. Realising the importance of development of wastelands, the government has embarked upon a massive programme of wasteland development, so that these lands become green and fertile within the shortest possible time.

Impact on the Knowledge and Adoption of Soil and water Conservation Practices

The knowledge level of the IWDP beneficiaries were found below average in all the soil and water conservation practices in the pre project period. About one fourth of the respondents (25.82 per cent) could name some of the vegetative hedges suited for dry lands. About thirty per cent of the respondents (29.16 per cent) admits that the construction of farm pond in the low-lying areas of the farm improves the water availability in the farm. On the other listed out practices almost all the respondents had negligible level of knowledge. The post project period shows a greater significance in the knowledge level of the respondents on the above practices. Majority of the respondents possessed adequate knowledge in naming vegetative hedges suited for dry lands (65.81 per cent), type of the slope required for contour bunding (62.48 per cent), recommended width of broad bed cum furrow and its suitability to the selected crops (56.64 per cent) and that the construction of farm pond in the low lying areas of the farm improves the water availability in the farm (54.16 per cent). Further, about fifty per cent (48.31 per cent) of the respondents had sufficient knowledge in the construction of the rain water harvesting structures suited for their houses.

The adoption of the soil and water conservation practices in the pre project period was very poor and found meager in all the practices. All the recommended practices were uniformly not followed by almost all the respondents. But the post project analysis revealed a significant positive change in the adoption of the above practices. About one third of the respondents have fully adopted the recommended width of broad bed cum furrow (33.32 per cent) and at the same time this practice was adopted for the right crops by almost a similar percentage of the respondents(32.49 per cent). Further, it is observed that an another 32.49 percentage of the respondents constructed right type of water harvesting structures suited for their houses.
Similarly, little less than one fourth of the respondents have fully adopted the right type of slope for the contour bunding (24.99 per cent) and planted vegetative hedges suited for their soil (23.32 per cent). Only ten per cent of the respondents have constructed farm pond in the low lying areas of the farm and at the same time this practice was partially adopted by 31.65 per cent of the respondents. In other practices also partial adoption was observed but in negligible percentages

Impact on the Knowledge and Adoption on Field Preparation, Seeds and Sowing

Little less than one fourth of the respondents in the pre project period had sufficient knowledge about the advantages of the pre monsoon sowing (24.99 per cent), advantages of the summer ploughing (23.32 per cent) and planting suitable fruit seedlings to their land (23.32 per cent). On the other practices they possessed only negligible level of knowledge.The post project results had shown that a remarkable change in the knowledge level of the respondents. Most of the respondents (81.63 per cent) knew the uses of the enriched farmyard manure, but in contrast only 68.31 per cent of the respondents had fair knowledge on the ingredients to be added while preparing enriched farmyard manure. Around three fourth of the respondents possessed sufficient knowledge in the selection of the right type of fruit seedlings suited to their land (78.30 per cent) and on the advantages of the pre monsoon sowing (74.97 per cent0. On the other hand, a clear majority of the respondents knew well, the uses of seed hardening methods (68.31 per cent), recommended varieties of rainfed sorghum (59.98 per cent) and the advantages of summer ploughing (54.98 per cent)

In the pre project period, the recommended IWDP practices related with field preparation, seeds and sowing were poorly adopted by the respondents. About one fifth of the respondents (19.99 per cent) have fully adopted the seed hardening practices while it was partially adopted by an another 14.99 per cent of the respondents.. Only about 15 percentage of the respondents have fully adopted the pre monsoon sowing practices. On the other listed out practices, their adoption level was found minimum and almost nil .In the post project period, the above trend has reversed and the IWDP had contributed for a remarkable change in the adoption percentage. Majority of the respondents had gone for pre monsoon sowing (56.64 per cent) and planting fruit seedlings suited to their land (52.48 per cent), followed by 44.099 per cent of the respondents had adopted recommended varieties of rainfed sorghum. Around one third of the respondents fairly adopted the enriched farmyard manure (34.99 per cent) and almost a similar percentage of the respondents (31.65 per cent) included all the essential ingredients while preparing enriched farmyard manure. At the same time summer ploughing was adopted by 27.49 per cent of the respondents and seed hardening was fully practiced by an another 21.66 per cent. Partial adoption was also seen in almost all the practices in negligible percentages.

Impact in terms of the Sensitivity Developed on Environmental protection

This study revealed that a vast majority of the respondents(65.00 per cent) were seen with medium level of sensitivity. High level was found with 15 per cent of the respondents. Only 20 per cent were with low level of sensitivity. Normally such a high percentage under medium level is rare to be seen the remote villages. The above results have shown the impact of IWDP among the farming community in the study area. There is no need to teach them separately on the ways and means of protecting our environment. The different intensive efforts taken under the IWDP alone could have contributed for developing their sensitivity as witnessed in the above table.

• Tamilnadu Agricultural University
  http://www.tnau.ac.in
• Government of Tamil Nadu
  http://www.tn.gov.in
• The National Portal of India
  http://www.india.gov.in
• Madurai the Athens of East
  http://www.madurai.nic.in
• Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Department
  http://www.tnrd.gov.in
• Statistical Hand Book 2007 (Published from Department of Economics and Statistics)
  http://www.tn.gov.in/deptst/index.htm

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (SouthAsiaFS)

Education

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University has reached the position of one of the top ranking agricultural universities in India due to its good quality of agricultural education. TNAU's significant role in offering agricultural education is made possible through the 10 colleges in seven campuses and a diploma institute situated in different districts of tamilnadu. The curriculum of the university is tailored to meet out the needs of the clientale who are engaged in Agriculture, Horticulture, Agricultural Processing, agricultural Marketing, Agro-based industries, Agricultural Engineering and Home Science as well as future agriculture development and research.

Undergraduate Education

The University is offering TWELVE undergraduate degree programs in 10 colleges distributed in seven campuses all over Tamil Nadu. The duration of these courses is four years (8 semesters).

A. Science Programs

• B.Sc.(Agriculture)
• B.Sc.(Horticulture)
• B.Sc.(Forestry)
• B.Sc.(Home Science)
• B.Tech.(Agricultural Engineering)

B. Technology Programs

• B.Tech.(Biotechnology)
• B.Tech.(Horticulture)
• B.Tech.(Food Process Engineering)
• B.Tech.(Energy and Environmental Engineering)
• B.Tech.(Bioinformatics)
• B.S.(AGRIBUSINESS MANAGEMENT)
• B.Tech.(AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY)

Post Graduate Education

TNAU is offering MSc and Ph.D programmes in almost all the major disciplines

Research

TNAU's significant role in conducting need based agricultural research on crop improvement, crop management, crop protection, post harvest technologies, agricultural marketing, processing, farm implements and machineries, increasing water use efficiency and water management technologies were made possible through the 10 colleges and 32 research stations of the University.

Extension

The Directorate of Extension Education (DEE) is primarily responsible for transfer of the latest technologies emanating from various programmes of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University to the farming community and extension personnels. Fourteen Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) functioning under the control of this Directorate organize skill oriented vocational training to farm men and women and youth in agriculture and allied fields. Training division of the directorate has conducted training for the officials from Agriculture and other development departments. Besides, agricultural technologies are being disseminated through Valarum Velanmai (Magazine), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Newsletter, Audio and Video cassettes and Video CD for the benefit of farmers.

Students welfare

The Directorate of Students Welfare (DSW) in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore is the nodal centre of students' counseling and placement activities for all the constituent colleges of the university. The core activities of the Directorate of Students’ Welfare are job placement, higher education in India and abroad and Career counseling. The graduates of the university are well placed through campus interviews, job fairs, industrial visits and overseas employment unit. In the recent years students are benefited as “Green Group” member i.e. internet based global networking for Tamil Nadu Agricultural University alumini working or studying abroad for exchange of information about fellowships and assistantships or job opportunities available across the globe. For civil service examination (Indian Administrative Services), coaching classes are being offered to graduates of the university.

Open and Distance Learning

In commemoration of the Centenary year of the Agricultural College and Research Institute, Coimbatore, the function of TNAU viz., teaching, research and extension has been enlarged with additional function of Open and Distance Learning which is first of its kind in India, among State Agricultural Universities. This Directorate concentrates its efforts on Distance Education in addition to non-formal and continuing education. The Directorate of Open and Distance Learning, one of the constituent units of the TNAU was started during April, 2005 by renaming the Directorate of Publications. This Directorate has started offering certificate courses, PG Diploma and PG Degree courses through Distance Learning Mode for those aspiring for self employment opportunities.

Field Station Activities – An Introduction

India is endowed with rich and vast diversity of natural resources including water, but unfortunately it is unevenly distributed over the country. More than 50 percent of the water resources in India is shared with five states namely Uttarpradesh,West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and left other states to more prone to water scarcity. Tamil Nadu is one such state a state in India has 13 m.ha of geographical area with 4 percent of countries cultivated area and 2 percent of water resources to cater 8 percent of its population.

The average rainfall of the state is only 943 mm compare to all India average of 1170 mm. It is also varies from 1200 mm in the coastal area to 550 mm in inland. The more than half of the population (56 percent) of the state still depended on agriculture for their livelihood, the rainfall occurs around October and November every year through Northeast monsoon will decide their fate. This is crucial because Southwest monsoon which will give enormous rainfall to other Indian states is blocked by Western Ghats. Thus tank irrigation system developed since ancient time to conserve available water for agricultural production and all of the water needs of the villagers. It is estimated that Tamil Nadu has around 39202 tanks with potential to irrigate 1.1 million ha. But actual area under tank irrigation is around 0.53 million ha. This disparity tells you all about the story of deterioration of tank irrigation system in the state. So many factors like physical, institutional and socio economical characteristics of the tank under tremendous pressure since green revolution. Among the 30 districts of Tamil Nadu tank irrigation is being intensively practiced in 9 districts in which, four districts in the North Tamil Nadu (Cuddalore, Villuppuram, Tiruvannamalai and Vellore) and five districts in the south Tamil Nadu (Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai, Virudhunagar and Pudhukottai)

Our study focused on southern districts, which is less industrailised than north Tamil Nadu. Increasing trend of fallow lands in tank command area and reduced cropping intensity is displaced million of farmers who solely depended on tank irrigated agriculture. Apart from the farmers, the landless labourers and farm women still in high numbers were lost their employment opportunities. The studies shows that reduced cropped area coupled with farm mechanization have already reduced 50 percent of mandays earlier available to the rural poor. While opportunity for work in the agriculture is seasonal and it is highly unstable due to various factors, the farmers and landless labourers are searching livelihood opportunities in nearby cities. Acknowledging this, the government of India and Tamil Nadu are administering various measures such as National Rural Employment Guarantee Progrm (NREGP) which envisaged to providing 100 days employment per year for one person from every willing household. Government of Tamil Nadu have provides 20 kg of rice per family at the rate of Re 1 per Kg through public distribution system since September 2008.

Government way of addressing these problems is through administering temporary palliatives but not providing sustainable solution. Hence our focus is analyzing changes in the livelihood opportunities available to rural poor in the tank irrigated area of southern Tamil Nadu after the innovation of market driven economy. we realized the technological change can generate more social benefits but the same time generate significant cost for small and marginal farmers, landless laboureres and farm women that are different in kind and intensity from those experienced by resource rich farmers. Our experience in the southern Tamil Nadu, for example introduction of high yield varieties and ground water lifting technology has major impact on those marginalized section. Presently we are focusing on the following issues in the Tank irrigation system in the upper Vaipar Basin in Madurai district of Tamil Nadu

1. Sustainability of tank irrigation with amidst of well irrigation
2. Causes for the deterioration of tank irrigation system and role of institution in the management of tank water and contemporary condition of traditional institution in the villages.

• Dr.M.Jegadeesan, Visiting Project Researcher, CSEAS, Kyoto University, Japan
• Dr.Koichi Fujita, Professor, CSEAS, Kyoto University, Japan
• Dr.Yasuyuki Kono, Professor, CSEAS, Kyoto University, Japan
• Dr.Takahiro Sato, Researcher, G-COE, Kyoto University, Japan
• Ms.Keiko Sato, Ph.D Scholar,.ASAFAS, Kyoto University, Japan
• Dr.R.Arunachalam, Associate Professor, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India
• Dr.K.Palanisami, Director, IWMI-TATA Policy Program, IWMI Hyderabad Office, India