• Visit of His Excellency The President of India
   to 
  National Agro Foundation - Research & Development Centre
   Taramani, Chennai 600 113
  
  September 4, 2006
  

• The President Visited the Research & Development Centre

Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, The President of India visited
theResearch & Development Centre at Anna University Taramani Campus.

He was received by the Chairman Mr. N Ravi, Vice Chancellor of Anna University Dr D Viswanathan, Managing Trustee Mr S S Rajsekar and Director Brigadier R I Raghunathan. The Trustees and Governing Council Members, Donors and Supporters of the Foundation were introduced to him.

• The President Visited the Soil Testing Laboratory
  

The President Visited the Soil Testing Laboratory

The President then visited the Soil Testing Laboratory and saw the analytical facilities available for soil testing. He had interaction with the laboratory team on soil testing services rendered to the farmers. He was keen to know whether enough awareness has been created among the farmers to realize the benefits of soil testing in soil fertility and crop productivity improvements.

He was happy to note that the laboratory has conducted over 4200 soil tests for the farmers and that the marginal farmers are being serviced at highly subsidized rates. He was informed that the recommendations for balancing the soil nutrient status to improve the crop productivity are being provided by the Agriculture Development Division of the Foundation.

Farm level technical advice is also being provided to the farmers in the adopted cluster of villages and improved crop productivity has been registered by using the scientific farming methods. He pointed out that the farmers should go in for crop rotations instead of mono-cropping, as it will help improve the fertility status of the soil.

• The President Visited the Food Testing Laboratory
  
  
  

  The President Visited the Food Testing Laboratory

The President then visited the Food Testing Laboratory of the Foundation and saw the analytical facilities available for food testing. Interacting with the Food Testing Laboratory Team, he stated that checking of packed food for safety aspects will prevent adulteration.

He stressed that testing for adulteration in food products especially canned food products is imperative. He was happy to note that the Foundation is planning to set up a Food Microbiology Lab to check microbial contaminants in food products. He also endorsed that microbiological testing is a very important aspect of food safety.

The President noted with satisfaction the various training programs being conducted by the Foundation for the poor and marginal farmers, as also for Bank Officials and students from schools and colleges. He visited a Photo Exhibition outlining various activities and achievements of the Foundation and urged that the tempo should be maintained.

• The high light of the President's visit

The high light of the President's visit was his interaction with selected farmers, members of Self Help Groups from the Foundation's project area and student trainees. Informality and spontaneous friendliness breathed through the interaction. The President said while the demand for grains requirement was on the rise, land availability was shrinking.

The only way to increase the production was to improve the productivity. Banks and cooperative institutions were ready to offer farmers loans at minimum interest and non-governmental organizations such as National Agro Foundation were ready to supply quality seeds. The farmers should make use of these facilities to improve production, the President said.

Urging rotation of crops, the President said it would help improve soil fertility. The farmers should go for cash crops such as jatropha to improve their income. Farmers should form Self Help Groups and avail the benefits provided by the Government. They should de-silt the local ponds for recharging groundwater. Before winding up, he asked the farmers to repeat the lines of an oath he had specially composed for the occasion.

In the oath, he emphasized the need for giving equal treatment to the male and female child, improving health and refraining from tobacco and alcohol. He urged the farmers to set an example to their children. He wanted them to impart quality education to their wards. They should take a vow o protect soil fertility, forest cover ad environment. He asked them to plant a minimum of five saplings in their backyard.

Before leaving the President recorded the following words in the Visitors Book -

"Good work done! Excellent Team! Greetings!" His words of encouragement have given a new impetus to National Agro Foundation to improve the range and depth of its activities.