Project profile — Open Distance Learning for Seed Technology

• India (100.00%)

• Agricultural services:
Agricultural services (31191) (40.00%)
Plant and post-harvest protection and pest control (31192) (30.00%)
• Industry: Agro-industries (32161) (30.00%)

• Gender equality (not targeted)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (significant objective)
• Participatory development and good governance (not targeted)
• Trade development (not targeted)
• Biodiversity (not targeted)
• Climate change mitigation (not targeted)
• Climate Change Adaptation (not targeted)
• Urban issues (not targeted)
• Desertification (not targeted)
• Children's issues (not targeted)
• Youth Issues (not targeted)
• Indigenous Issues (not targeted)
• Disability (not targeted)
• ICT as a tool for development (not targeted)

This project promotes Open Distance Learning for Seed Technology in partnership with the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU). This distance learning approach is utilized and improved to affect agricultural production through the promulgation of improved seed and seed technologies in environmentally sound ways. A pilot project takes place in a village in order to demonstrate the practicality of the approach.

N/A

Results achieved as of (March 2013) include: (i) strengthening the distance learning at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) (ii) providing training on seed technologies through a distance learning program to 30 TNAU faculty and staff, 12 non-governmental organization (NGO) staff and 25 farmers; and (iii) setting up 174 demonstrations sites for various agriculture crops. The distance learning program reached a total of 4,267 farmers: In Rasingapuram, the NGO Vidiyal reached 2,165 farmers (61% of whom are women), exceeding its target of 2,000. In Karamuthur, Arul Anandar College (AAC) reached 550 farmers (15% of whom are women), exceeding its target of 500. In Kannivadi, the Rediarchatiram Seed Growers Association (RSGA) reached 1,552 farmers (46% of whom are women), exceeding its target of 1,500. Part of these farmers have taken up seed production as a commercial crop: 64% of participants of the program offered through Vidiyal with Groundnut seeds, 52% of participants through AAC with Paddy seeds, and 10% of participants through RSGA with onion, chickpea and paddy seeds. These results contributed to expanding the use of distance learning for seed technology, and increase number of farmers using improved seed technologies for growing crops and trees in target areas in India.

• Proactive disclosure