Category Archives: Science & Technologies

Farmer bags Progressive Mushroom Grower award

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technologies

Coimbatore :

A mushroom grower hailing from Villupuram district has bagged the Progressive Mushroom Grower award for this year for his outstanding contribution to the mushroom industry in Tamil Nadu.

A R Mohamed Khan from Kallakurichi in Villupuram district was earlier trained at Mushroom Research and Training Centre in  Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) in 2010.

The average mushroom production at his farm is 100 kg per day and he has also established a mushroom spawn laboratory with the production capacity of 300kg per day, said a statement from TNAU.

Apart from this, he is the only manufacturer of mushroom rusks in Tamil Nadu having the production capacity of 500 kg rusk a day.

Mohamed has also engaged around 10 dealers to supply mushroom rusks in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. His other products include mushroom pickles and mushroom pakodas and he has also developed the technology for producing mushroom noodles and mushroom bathing soap.

Considering such outstanding achievements in the mushroom industry, the award was presented to him by Directorate of Mushroom Research, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Dr Vijay Singh Thakar, Vice-Chancellor of Dr.Y.S.Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry at Solan in Himachal Pradesh presented the award during the National Mushroom Mela held recently at Solan. TNAU officials said that his keen interest in providing support to small and marginal mushroom growers and efforts taken to popularise mushroom consumption needs special mention.

Mohamed Khan also gives free consultations to budding entrepreneurs and is a pioneer in introducing value addition of mushroom.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore> Agri Research / TNN / September 30th, 2013

Madurai farmers turning tech savvy

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, Science & Technologies
Farmers harvesting paddy in a field using a machine./ File Photo / The Hindu
Farmers harvesting paddy in a field using a machine./ File Photo / The Hindu

They reap benefits of automation and modern agro methods

Technology has made inroads into agricultural operations in Madurai district. Farmers have started reaping benefits after they have automated and adopted modern agriculture methods.

Paddy yield has steadily increased over a span of four years. In 2009-10, the yield was 5,554 kg per hectare (ha). It increased to 6,367 kg/ha in 2010-11 and 6,819 kg/ha in 2011-12. Despite a severe drought, it was 5,157 kg/ha in 2012-13, a year in which many districts sought monetary relief to offset losses in the farm sector.

Though slow to embrace the system of Rice Intensification (SRI) technique introduced by the government, farmers are now enjoying the dividends.

Today, small and marginal farmers are quick to use farm implements such as power tillers, transplanters and power weeders, once topics of discussion limited to officials, manufacturers and farmers with large holdings, says S. Kanagaraj, Deputy Director (Watershed Development Agency).

By involving the village youth, ‘Farmers’ interest groups’ (FIG) were formed in all the 13 blocks in Madurai district. The FIGs monitored and fulfilled farmers’ needs. For instance, farmers in Thuyaneri near Othakadai in the Madurai East block were supplied with power tillers and transplanters but were also made accountable for their maintenance, Mr. Kanagaraj said.

Now, S. Ramaiah of Kallanthiri is able to manage his 2.5-acre paddy field with minimum farm labour. “I became familiar with the farm equipment after attending an ATMA programme. The introduction of the harvester machine has come as a big relief. Water conservation techniques are also useful. There were initial hiccups, but I managed to overcome them,” he said.

Like Ramaiah, many other farmers have their own success stories, say officials.

Weather bulletin

Another important scientific advancement that has reached the nook and corners of Madurai district is the easy access to rainfall data. The weather forecast can be accessed on tawn.tnau.ac.in. Established by the Agro Climate Research Centre, the agri-weather bulletin provides data on local temperature, possibility of rainfall in the next 24 hours, humidity level, and other information. The weather forecast enables farmers to plan the day’s work, says Arulprakasam, an FIG member.

Presently, automatic weather stations are functioning in Vadipatti, Madurai East, Madurai West, Alanganallur and Kottampatti blocks. Soon, the other eight blocks too will have the facility, a Tamil Nadu Agricultural University official said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Madurai / by L. Srinivasan / Madurai – September 13th, 2013

Farming or engineering, innovation is the key

Education, Science & Technologies
Adalat Ali (second left), Programme Director, Air Defence, DRDO- Hyderabad, releasing the 'i3 Expo' directory, which is being received by G.D. Gopal (second right), Managing Trustee, GD Naidu Charities, at the inaugural of the expo at CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex, in the city on Friday. / Photo:K.Ananthan / The Hindu
Adalat Ali (second left), Programme Director, Air Defence, DRDO- Hyderabad, releasing the ‘i3 Expo’ directory, which is being received by G.D. Gopal (second right), Managing Trustee, GD Naidu Charities, at the inaugural of the expo at CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex, in the city on Friday. / Photo:K.Ananthan / The Hindu

i3 Expo provides a platform to innovators, venture capitalists, students, farmers, scientists, and entrepreneurs

At first sight nothing seemed different in the soft silk saree. A heap of arecanut shells and its fibre kept nearby gave an indication that the saree had a touch of innovation.

G. Nivedita of Mettupalayam and her friends worked for more than a year to produce the hand-woven, silk saree blended with arecanut fibre. With raw silk costs shooting up, this saree can be an alternative, says Ms. Nivedita. About 10 kg of arecanut was used for this purpose. The fibre was removed manually, processed, spun and woven with silk. The team gave the saree to the South India Textile Research Association and tested it for colour fastness and strength.

This was one of the displays at i3 Expo, a three-day exhibition of ideas, inventions and innovations on at the CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex here from Friday.

Daniel T.Davy of Thrissur displays a 'Pit Snatcher'. / Photo:K.Ananthan / The Hindu
Daniel T.Davy of Thrissur displays a ‘Pit Snatcher’. / Photo:K.Ananthan / The Hindu

The organisers have given a platform through the exhibition for innovators, venture capitalists, students, farmers, scientists, and entrepreneurs to come together.

Be it a system for better traffic management, improvement in home security, value addition to an agricultural produce, tapping solar, wind or hydro energy, or making farming easier, all these have found space at the exhibition.

Many of these can make everyday life easier for consumers if the concepts are commercialised. For instance, a team from Dindigul is demonstrating how swipe card and automation can be used in public distribution outlets.

Adalat Ali, Programme Director of Air Defence of DRDO, said at the inaugural that necessity and creativity drive innovations and inventions.

According to G.D. Gopal, Managing Trustee of GD Naidu Charities, the event will showcase Coimbatore’s abilities.

L. Gopalakrishnan, Managing Trustee of PSG & Sons Charities, spoke of the efforts of founder of PSG College of Technology G.R. Damodaran for the development of the industry and education here.

A.V. Varadarajan, chairman of the expo, said innovation was the key to economic development.

R. Palanisamy, convenor of i3 Expo, said the exhibition had the encouragement of the National Innovation Council and the State councils for Science and Technology. It had 541 participants from different States and the displays were in the areas of agriculture, engineering, textiles, energy, and medicine. Nearly 102 educational institutions are participating in the expo. The best innovations will get cash awards.

The event is organised by the PSG Tech Alumni Association and presented by PSG Institutions as a concurrent event of GRD centenary year celebrations. Entry is free and the exhibition is open from 9.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.

The Hindu is the media partner for the event.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Coimbatore / by Special Correspondent / Coimbatore – September 28th, 2013

3-day expo showcasing student innovations begins in Coimbatore

Education, Science & Technologies

Coimbatore :

Daniel T Davy from Thejus Engineering College in Thrissur and R C Naveen from PSG College of Technology are hopeful that they will get the much needed support for their innovations. Both students have exhibited devices that would help rescue infants trapped in bore wells. They are among the 550 creative minds who participated in the national  level I3 expo that began on Friday. Daniel has named his device ‘Pit Snatcher’ and recently demonstrated the dummy rescue operation at his college.

“Usually rescuers dig a pit near the bore well to get access to the victim, which is a time consuming process,” Daniel said. The ‘Pit Snatcher’ would rescue trapped infants by directly entering the bore well. R C Naveen, a final year student, has also featured a similar model at the expo called ‘Borebot’. Though he is yet to develop his idea into a model and demonstrate its workings, Naveen says he is confident that victims can be rescued within hours.

Another innovation featured by K Hariharasudan and S Muralidaran, first year students of PSG College of Technology attempts to aid in the rescue of earthquake victims. “Our robots can be guided through the rubbles using mobile phones to identify victims,” Hariharasudan said. The robot, controlled by a mobile phone, has sensors which can detect body heat. As many as 750 innovations by 550 students are exhibited at the expo organised by PSG Institutions in Coimbatore. Organisers say that they received more than 1300 applications from across the country but only 750 were selected. “Screening of applications was done by a team of professors, engineers and entrepreneurs to shortlist the entries,” said an organiser. Inaugurating the fair, Air Defence programme director of DRDO Adalat Ali said that the DRDO will showcase the Prahar and Aakash missiles in the upcoming Seol Air Show. The expo will end on Sunday and will be open to the public from 9.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore> Snatchers / by S M Arun, TNN / September 28th, 2013

15-yr pan-Indian research yields riches

Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, Science & Technologies

 

Picture for representational purpose only.
Picture for representational purpose only.

Coimbatore: 

After conducting pan India research, the Forest College and Research Institute (FC&RI) in Mettupalayam, near Coimbatore, has come out with a slew of traditi­onal and under-utilised cr­op varieties with high-nu­tritional value that are suita­ble for cultivation in Tamil Nadu.

The FC&RI, in collaboration with the Indian Co­u­­n­cil of Agricultural and Res­ea­rch, undertook a national-level co-ordinated res­ea­r­ch network on under-uti­li­sed crops since 1982 to promote such under-utilised and traditional crops for human use in Tamil Nadu.

“After an intensive 15 ye­ars of study, we have found a high-yielding variety of the grain, amaranth, which has immense health benefi­ts and is suitable for cultivation in Tamil Nadu’s con­dit­ions,” said A. Balas­ubramanian, professor and researcher at FC&RI.

Amaranth can be used as porridge, like popcorn and to manufacture biscuit. “This grain contains components like lyseme and squalene, which is utilised for preparation of medicines meant to cure cancer and reduce cholesterol. It can also be preferred as a low-sugar food,” Prof Balasubramanian said.

Amaranth, which was cultivated in the Kolli Hills and the Nilgiris, was the ma­in food crop centuries ago. “The crop variant has now been brought from Gu­j­a­rat, where it is sown for ex­port to international ma­rkets,” the researcher said.

Like in the case of amaranth, FC&RI has also bro­ught out crops like rice be­an, an intercrop, and sim­ar­ouba, a tree variety from So­uth America, with high he­alth benefits, and which can be grown in TN.

“These few varieties of crops were found suitable for our state after research on hundreds of crops which have been proved successful. While the rice bean has high pro­te­in content, simarouba can be used to produce edi­b­le oil, which has low melti­ng point and can be used for ma­king chocolates. The de­sired varieties of amaranth are capable of yielding ei­ght quintals per acre if rai­sed during the kharif and la­te rabi season,” said Prof Bal­asubramanian, adding th­at efforts would now be ta­ken to promote these crops among farmers.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / by V. Ashok Kumar / September 29th, 2013

Rare distinction for Vadakara girl

Education, Records, All, Science & Technologies

NikitaCF27sept2013

The story of Nikita Hari from Pazhankavu in Vadakara is an inspiration to many. Nikita, born to a small-scale industrialist, aspired big and reached there with hard work and determination. On Thursday, she will fly to London to take up her chosen calling.

Ms. Nikita is the only Indian candidate who has qualified for research in Cambridge University, U.K. this year. An electronics and instrumentation engineer from CUSAT who completed her postgraduation from the SRM University in Chennai, Nikita was working as a lecturer at the National Institute of Technology, Kozhikode, when she applied for research abroad. Her brilliant academic background got her admission into Harvard and Oxford Universities and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology besides Cambridge. But she chose the latter for the better functioning department of Electronics there along with the chance to work under the Head of the Department. To top it all, the university granted her a scholarship of Rs.50 lakh, which would cover half her fee.

The research topic Nikita had selected was to develop instruments that would reduce transmission loss while connecting non-conventional energy sources to electric grids. She aspires to become a scientist and in future help, inspire, and promote girls who are bright, but economically backward, to take up scientific research.

A big fan of Albert Einstein and Steve Jobs, Nikita is the daughter of Haridas, who own Intec Industries in Vadakara and Geetha. Nikita was accorded a warm send-off and felicitation by the local people of Pazhankavu as well as many organisations recently.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Kerala / by Aabha Anoop / September 19th, 2013

iEnergy Wind investment proposal

Business & Economy, Science & Technologies, World Opinion

Chennai-based iEnergy Wind Farms (Theni) has submitted a fresh proposal to the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) seeking post-facto approval for issue of 4,500 shares to Mauritian company Indian Energy (Mauritius) Ltd one day before receipt of inward remittances.

According to the existing policy, equity shares are to be issued only after receipt of remittance. Since, in this case, shares were issued one day before receipt of remittance, the RBI advised the company to obtain ex-post-facto approval for it.

The FIPB had earlier deferred a decision on the proposal as the applicant had sought time to furnish details regarding beneficial ownership demanded by the Department of Revenue.

In 2009, Indian Energy (Mauritius) Ltd had become the holding company by investing in 4,500 equity shares of Rs 10 each with a premium of Rs 19,990 a share.

It also acquired 9,999 equity shares of Rs 10 each held by Santany Bagchi in 2010. The holding company has been investing in the equity and preference shares of the company.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Companies / The Hindu Bureau / New Delhi – September 19th, 2013

CRMIT Solutions participates in industrial consortium with Anna University of Technology

Business & Economy, Education, Science & Technologies

CRMIT Solutions today announced a MoU with Anna University of Technology, a leading educational university for participating in an industrial consortium.

Bangalore :

CRMIT Solutions, a leader in transforming businesses with cloud based Customer Experience (CX) solutions, today announced a Memorandum of Understanding with Anna University of Technology to participate in their initiative for industrial consortium. The consortium is comprised of companies that are engaged with the University in collaborating on various industrial and manufacturing projects and programs. The MoU enables the University to study and understand CRMIT Solutions’ innovative concepts, technological development and expertise in Cloud based solution.

The consortium will primarily focus on Industrial collaboration to support significant joint research programs

Support development of new technology programs, academic courses

Organize thematic seminars & conferences with specific industry focus

Provide well trained faculty members & well equipped laboratories

This industrial consortium is a noble initiative by Anna University of Technology as a means of continuing education for professionals as a part of the human resource development programmers of specific organizations. Programmes for promoting Industry-Institute interactions, regional get-together of industries, government-funding agencies, R&D and Educational institutions, etc., are organised at regular intervals for cross pollination of industrial / academic ideas.

“We are privileged to be a part of this industrial consortium and thankful to Anna University of Technology. Our participation in this consortium is our testimony and commitment to build industrial readiness, professional competencies, and also to improve soft skills with the various programs under the MoU” – said P S Reddy, General Manager , CRMIT Solutions.

source: http://www.free-press-release-center.info / Free Press Release Center -FPRC / September 03rd, 2013

IIT-M scholar invents sensor to check milk

Education, Records, All, Science & Technologies
Picture for representational purposes only.
Picture for representational purposes only.
Chennai:
 With the Supreme Court raising its concern about adulteration of milk, a research scholar from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M) has developed a colour-based sensor (membrane), which changes colour whe­n the milk gets spoilt.
Concerned over how people get fooled by milk traders who sell spoilt mi­lk to people, Anshika Aga­r­wal, a research scholar in the department of biotechnology at IIT-M decided to come up with a solution to help people buy good quality milk.
She started to work a year ago to solve the problem as part of her Ph.D research. “Milk often gets spoilt before the expiry date printed on the sachet. Keeping this in mind, I developed a sensor which is sensitive enough to dete­ct milk spoilage at anea­rly stag­e,” said Ag­arwal, do­i­n­g research in elec­trospinning (electrical ch­a­­r­g­e draws very fine fib­res from a liquid.).
The m­e­­mb­­rane (sensor) would be pri­n­ted on the external wall conne­cted by a small pie­ce of sensor, which wo­u­l­d se­n­­se the quality of milk and change the membrane’s colour in the sachet. “My sensor is cost-effective and easy to incorporate in packaging system. Prof T.S. Ch­andra of the Biotec­h­­nolo­gy department and Prof T.S. Natarajan from the Phy­sics department have helped me a lot in developing this membran­e­,” she said.
K. Sekar, a milk vendor said,“People ke­e­p complaining about th­e poor quality of milk be­i­ng supplied to them but now if this membrane is fixed, I am sure we will get to know the quality of mil­k when its supplied to us.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / by N. Arun Kumar / July 07th, 2013

Dindigul shows the way in rainwater harvesting

Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, Science & Technologies

Madurai :

When several parts of the state are still facing water shortages, Dindigul town has reported steady rise in groundwater level after the recent rains. The residents now laud the municipality for its intensive drive to create awareness on rainwater-harvesting measures in the town.

The water table in Dindigul town, which had touched an all time low of 600 feet earlier, has climbed up to 500 ft. The residents, who are the beneficiaries, are happy they complied with the municipality and laid down the rainwater harvesting structures in time.

A survey of buildings with the rainwater-harvesting structures, including houses, commercial complexes and industrial units, was done in June this year, said Dindigul municipal commissioner T Kumar. Out of 20,337 buildings, only about 3,000 had rainwater-harvesting structures then. Soon, 30 teams of municipal employees swung into action and made door-to-door visits, insisting people to fix the structures. Their efforts paid off and today over 12,000 buildings in the town have rainwater harvesting structures.

The municipal workers talked to the residents and sensitised them on the need to harvest the rainwater. Senior town planning officer M A Palaniappan said the government has designed specific rainwater-harvesting models according to soil condition. Dindigul has sandy soil which enables easy percolation of the rainwater; hence; the residents were asked to install structures which cost about Rs 3,000 for a 1,000 square-feet structure. “We specify that each structure should have a depth of, at least, one meter,” he said. Buildings that adopt the system have spot a sticker saying “rainwater-harvesting measures implemented”.

V Marudharaj, municipal chairman, is passionate about the concept. He propagates the importance of harvesting the precious natural resource among the residents of the town. The municipal office has model structures of the system to give residents an idea about the system. The residents were also asked to refurbish the old harvesting infrastructure, Marudharaj said.

To avoid water crisis, the municipality even restored the Gobalsamudram tank spread over four acres in the heart of Dindigul town. “We took up the restoration work that was pending for the last 40 years. Shrubs were removed and all the sewage that flowed into the tank was diverted. The tank has been fenced and only rain water will be allowed to flow into it from the nearby buildings in future. Two wells within the tank were also deepened. If there is good rainfall, this tank will be filled with sparkling rainwater,” Marudharaj explained about the measures undertaken.

Rajarathinam, a resident, said the water in his domestic borewell has gone up by 5 ft after the recent rains and that he is happy that he installed the rainwater harvesting system. Jayalakshmi, another resident, noted that garden plants are now growing well after she put up the system.

Sources say that the administration should insist on the implementation of the rainwater harvesting system in villages also.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai> Water table / by Padmini Sivarajah, TNN / September 14th, 2013