TNAU offers distance learning courses in agriculture and allied sectors

NEW DELHI: The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) is offering various distance learning programmes that cover certificate courses in agriculture, horticulture, and allied sectors. These programmes target school dropouts, the farming community, self-help groups, unemployed youth, fertilizer and pesticide dealers, and people in urban areas interested in urban agriculture.

According to the official press release, all courses offered by the directorate of open and distance learning are available throughout Tamil Nadu. Contact classes will be held only on Saturdays and Sundays for the convenience of candidates at the TNAU main campus, all sub-campuses, KVKs, and research stations of TNAU.

TNAU also offers a diploma in agri-inputs programme, designed specifically for fertiliser and pesticide dealers. For people in urban areas interested in starting small-scale agriculture projects, TNAU offers certificate courses designed for urban dwellers.

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“As per the Central Government amendments regarding the Fertilizer Order and Pesticide, 2015, the basic educational qualification for the input dealers was fixed as diploma in agriculture. Hence, based on the need of the input dealers, the diploma in agri-inputs course has been designed and has been offered since 2016,” the institute said.

The certificate courses focus on the efficient use of land, transportation, infrastructure, public spaces, sanitation, and air and water quality. Online certificate courses on organic farming inputs, ornamental gardening and landscaping, medicinal plants and aromatic crops production, kitchen and roof gardening, pest and disease diagnosis in home gardening and vermicomposting are offered in English.

“The Directorate of Open and Distance Learning is making constant efforts in preparing Self Learning Materials (SLM) with active participation of scientists of respective disciplines for the benefit of learners,” the official notice read.