Water Technology Centre at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore is organising three days National Congress on “New Challenges and Advances in Sustainable Micro Irrigation” at the university premises from March 1 to March 3, 2017. Around 350 participants from all over India participated in this congress.

C.V. Theivendran, Chief Engineer, Dept. of Agricultural Engineering, Govt. of Tamil Nadu felicitated the gathering. In his address he said “Water is becoming scarce commodity. I request the delegates to promote adoption of micro irrigation techniques among the farming community and create awareness about how the right quantity of water should be used at right time in the right place. Designing appropriate equipment with specific to crop is more important.” he said.

Naresh Modi, Project Director, National Committee on Plasticulture Applications in Horticulture New Delhi in his address said that “Due to land fragmentation, adoption of farm implements for irrigation is becoming a challenge. It is the opportunity for the scientific fraternity to provide appropriate technology, which is suitable for our land holdings.”
Dr. S. Bhaskar, Assistant Director of General (Agro Forestry), ICAR, New Delhi gave special address in which he said that it is the time to take up micro irrigation to next level that is “Tissue irrigation”. Irrigation shall be given directly to ‘Xylem’ tissues. This technology already tested in coconut and need testing for crops and other trees.”

Dr. K. Ramasamy, Vice-chancellor, TNAU, Coimbatore in his presidential address emphasised that, “Irrigation is an inter disciplinary team work. Before we expect the farmers to adopt our technology, the government should provide necessary infrastructure facilities to them. He requested that the Government should invest in creating infrastructure for farmers, which is the foremost need of the farming community.”
He further added that “Farmers did not want subsidy but they expected us to deliver good quality seed, inputs and assured water supply for at least three months. If government is dedicated to provide these three ingredients then farmers definitely surprise us with good yield. Textiles, spices, leather food processing industries are all supported by agriculture. So, agriculture not only needed to meet the food demand of the country but also raw material demand of many industries. If farmers are provided with adequate infrastructure for processing, value adding, then they can sustain their life.” he added.
Dr. A.K. Singh, Vice Chaccellor, RVSKVV, Gwalior, MP in his inaugural address emphasized the research priorities on measures to increase the water use efficiency. He said, “Subsurface irrigation systems long term effect of poor quality water usage sensor based variable rate of irrigation water application developing water solute micronutrient fertilizers use of organic inputs for drip fertigation etc.,” he added.
In this congress, two farmers namely, M.Parthsarathy of Govindapuram Village in Dharapuram and P.Vetrivelan of Thondamuthur in Coimbatore district were presented with Best Micro Irrigation Farmers Award. Also four scientists
Dr. K. Palanisamy, Former Director, WTC, TNAU, Dr.S.Raman, Advisor, Gujarat Green Revolution Company, Vadodara, Dr. R. Sakthi Vadivel, Emeritus Professor, Centre for Water Resources, Anna University, Dr. Goel, Retd. Professor, USA were given distinguished scientist award for their outstanding work in the field of water.
Dr. R.K. Sivanappan, Founder Director of Water Technology Centre, TNAU has been awared the “Life time achievement award” for his contribution in the field of “Micro Irrigation”
Earlier, Dr. B.J. Pandian, Organizing Chairman NCMI2017 and Director, WTC, TNAU, Coimbatore welcomed the gathering. Dr. S.P. Ramanathan, Organizing Secretary NCMI 2017 and Professor (Agronomy), WTC, TNAU, Coimbatore proposed vote of thanks.

C.V. Theivendran, Chief Engineer, Dept. of Agricultural Engineering, Govt. of Tamil Nadu felicitated the gathering. In his address he said “Water is becoming scarce commodity. I request the delegates to promote adoption of micro irrigation techniques among the farming community and create awareness about how the right quantity of water should be used at right time in the right place. Designing appropriate equipment with specific to crop is more important.” he said.

Naresh Modi, Project Director, National Committee on Plasticulture Applications in Horticulture New Delhi in his address said that “Due to land fragmentation, adoption of farm implements for irrigation is becoming a challenge. It is the opportunity for the scientific fraternity to provide appropriate technology, which is suitable for our land holdings.”
Dr. S. Bhaskar, Assistant Director of General (Agro Forestry), ICAR, New Delhi gave special address in which he said that it is the time to take up micro irrigation to next level that is “Tissue irrigation”. Irrigation shall be given directly to ‘Xylem’ tissues. This technology already tested in coconut and need testing for crops and other trees.”

Dr. K. Ramasamy, Vice-chancellor, TNAU, Coimbatore in his presidential address emphasised that, “Irrigation is an inter disciplinary team work. Before we expect the farmers to adopt our technology, the government should provide necessary infrastructure facilities to them. He requested that the Government should invest in creating infrastructure for farmers, which is the foremost need of the farming community.”
He further added that “Farmers did not want subsidy but they expected us to deliver good quality seed, inputs and assured water supply for at least three months. If government is dedicated to provide these three ingredients then farmers definitely surprise us with good yield. Textiles, spices, leather food processing industries are all supported by agriculture. So, agriculture not only needed to meet the food demand of the country but also raw material demand of many industries. If farmers are provided with adequate infrastructure for processing, value adding, then they can sustain their life.” he added.
Dr. A.K. Singh, Vice Chaccellor, RVSKVV, Gwalior, MP in his inaugural address emphasized the research priorities on measures to increase the water use efficiency. He said, “Subsurface irrigation systems long term effect of poor quality water usage sensor based variable rate of irrigation water application developing water solute micronutrient fertilizers use of organic inputs for drip fertigation etc.,” he added.
In this congress, two farmers namely, M.Parthsarathy of Govindapuram Village in Dharapuram and P.Vetrivelan of Thondamuthur in Coimbatore district were presented with Best Micro Irrigation Farmers Award. Also four scientists
Dr. K. Palanisamy, Former Director, WTC, TNAU, Dr.S.Raman, Advisor, Gujarat Green Revolution Company, Vadodara, Dr. R. Sakthi Vadivel, Emeritus Professor, Centre for Water Resources, Anna University, Dr. Goel, Retd. Professor, USA were given distinguished scientist award for their outstanding work in the field of water.
Dr. R.K. Sivanappan, Founder Director of Water Technology Centre, TNAU has been awared the “Life time achievement award” for his contribution in the field of “Micro Irrigation”
Earlier, Dr. B.J. Pandian, Organizing Chairman NCMI2017 and Director, WTC, TNAU, Coimbatore welcomed the gathering. Dr. S.P. Ramanathan, Organizing Secretary NCMI 2017 and Professor (Agronomy), WTC, TNAU, Coimbatore proposed vote of thanks.