Farm school on All India Radio was started as a joint venture between All India Radio and Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Science University and Tamil Nadu fisheries University. Modern Scientific technologies are taught to farmers by offering a series of 13 lessons over a period of 3 month. This Farm school on Radio lesson broadcast once in a week for a duration of 30 minutes. At the end of the course one day contact class is organized to enable the farmers to discuss and interact with the resource person who conducted the lessons. A printed booklet containing the lessons as well as questions are supplied to the registered farmers who attend the contact class. All India Radio Chennai had broadcast 13 lessons of Farm school on Radio on ornamental fish farming technology. The contact class of the Farm School on Radio on ornamental “Fish Farming Technology” jointly organized by All India Radio Chennai and Tamil Nadu Fisheries University was held at Fisheries College and Research Institute, Ponneri Thiruvallur District on 08.11.2016. This contact class has enabled a Sizable fish farmers to enrich their knowledge to do ornamental Pisciculture in a scientific manner and to get more income by increasing the production.
The contact class started with method demonstration on feed preparation for ornamental fishes, wherein the participants were demonstrated the step by step process of preparing ornamental fish feed. A pamphlet explaining the feed preparation procedure was also given to the participants. Then, a method demonstration on aquarium glass tank fabrication was conducted whereon the participants gained hands-on experience. The method demonstration was followed by the interaction session during which the doubts on ornamental fish farming was clarified by a panel of experts. Majorly of the doubts were on the treatment for the diseases that attack the ornamental fishes, the procedure for export of ornamental fishes and the government schemes and subsidies for ornamental fish farmers. The interactive session was followed by the Valedictory function. The Valedictory function started with the Welcome Address by Dr. M. Nagoor Meeran, Director of Extension Education, TNFU, Nagapattinam. The Presidential Address was given by Dr. S. Felix, Dean, Fisheries College and Research Institute, Ponneri, in which he had sensitized on the vast scope of Ornamental fish trade in India. He also briefed about the “Aquatic Rainbow Technology Park (ARTP)” Scheme is being implemented at Madhavaram funded by the State Planning Commission to the tune of 10.30 crores.
The Chief Guest, Shri. V. Chakravarthy, Programme Head, All India Radio, Chennai released the book containing the lectures of the Farm School on Radio and the first copy was received by Dr. S. Felix. The Chief Guest, in his address explained about the relevance of Radio in the present day context. He also expressed that this Farm school on Radio programme is a Compendium of the various latest ornamental fish culture technologies which are very essential for farmers. This lesson will enable the farmers of rural areas to know about of the technologies on new ornamental fish varieties, disease Management, export opportunities, etc. and update their technical expertise to do ornamental Pisciculture in scientific manner and expressed his confidence that this effort would be an effective conduit to spread the technologies in ornamental Pisciculture to the farming Community which would ultimately result in capacity building by farmers as well as to increase the rural economy. He assured that All India Radio will provide complete support to farmers who are the back bone of our country. Then, Sri. V. Chakravarthy, Programme Head of All India Radio Chennai distributed the certificates and books to the participants. The programme came to an end with vote of thanks by Shri. R. Rajagopal, Programme Executive Farm & Home, All India Radio, Chennai.
Contributed by: - Shri. R. Rajagopal, Programme Executive Farm & Home, All India Radio, Chennai
farmradiochennai@gmail.com