Tata trust interestd to partner with TNAU
Mumbai-based Tata Trusts have evinced interest to partner with Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) for extending its agricultural activities in south India, with focus on enhancing income of small land owners. As a step in this direction, Sir Ratan Tata Trust Programmes Manager Arun Pandhi and Sir Dorabji Tata Trust Programme Officer Archana Nambiar visited the university recently. Presenting a broad narrative of the rural development activities undertaken and funded by both the trusts across the country, Arun said about Rs 252 crore have been funded for core projects such as rural livelihoods and communities, education and health during 2006-07."Tata Trusts focus on "small holders to enhance their income through a variety of interventions," he said. Arun expressed that the trusts were keen to expand their activities into south India especially on transfer-of- technology activities so as to improve the livelihood of small farmers, a TNAU release said here today. Expressing the desire to focus on three or four core areas, Arun has requested for concept notes from TNAU for further deliberations, it said. TNAU Vice-Chancellor C Ramasamy outlined the serious challenges and critical issues currently faced by agricultural sector in Tamil Nadu, which can be jointly addressed by TNAU and the Tata Trusts. He indicated that development of dryland agriculture with focus on improving the livelihood of small farmers should be given top priority in the partnership programme.
