Competitive Agriculture

The book Competitive Agriculture represents the culmination of considerable effort aimed at benefiting students, graduates, and faculty members in the field of agriculture and related sectors. It comprises a total of eighteen units, which cover a wide range of topics, including the significance of agriculture, agronomy, agrometeorology, plant breeding and genetics, soil science and agricultural chemistry, agricultural entomology, plant pathology, agricultural microbiology, crop physiology, seed science and technology, agricultural biotechnology, agricultural economics, finance and agricultural business, agricultural marketing and intelligence, agricultural extension and rural sociology, horticulture, forestry, farm machinery and renewable energy, livestock and poultry rearing. Each unit is further divided into various chapters that adhere to the respective course content outlined in the ICAR syllabus.

This collection of question banks is immensely helpful in preparing for competitive examinations, such as those administered by the Central and State Public Service Commissions, Forestry examinations, ARS, ICAR-NET, Post graduate entrance examinations, and other similar assessments.

Dr. K. Vanangamudi, Former Dean (Agriculture) and Seed Scientist, graduated B.Sc., (Agri) in 1975 from Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore; M.Sc., (Ag.) and Ph.D. in Seed Science and Technology, respectively in 1977 and 1981 from TNAU; and Post Doctoral Fellow (1988-1990) at Mississippi State University, USA. He joined Department of Seed Science and Technology, TNAU as Assistant Professor in 1982 and served the University for 32 years as Associate Professor (1986- 1988) at Agricultural Research Station, Bhavanisagar; Professor (1992-2001) at Forest College & Research Institute, Mettupalayam; Professor and Head (2001-2003) of Department of Seed Science and Technology; Dean, Adhiparasakthi Agricultural College (2003-2006), Kalavai; and Dean (Agriculture), Agricultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Coimbatore (2006-2009). He retired from service on August 31, 2013 He has undergone Post Doctoral Programme in Tree Seed Technology at Mississippi State University, USA from 1988-1990 and visited USA, Japan and Canada in connection with Forestry education and research under USAID-Winrock International program. He underwent training on e-learning and web based teaching at UC, Davis and Cornell University, USA during 2017. Dr. Vanangamudi's significant contributions in Agricultural Education are 1. starting B.Tech (Bioinformatics), B. Tech (Agricultural Information Technology) and BS (Agribusiness Management) degrees at AC&RI, Coimbatore, and B.Sc (Horti.) degree at AP Agricultural College; 2. He introduced e-education and online examination; 3. Under NAIP project on 'Development of e-courses for B.Sc., (Ag) degree program as Co.PI, he developed e-learning materials for all the 50 courses and hosted in TNAU and ICAR websites; and 4. Video streaming of lecture presentation by the teachers in the classroom (video filming, editing and publishing). He has prepared course materials for 90 courses for Industrial Training Institute (ITI) program in Agriculture, Horticulture, Agricultural Engineering, Animal husbandry, Poultry, Food processing under 'Modular Employment Skills' and 'Centre of Excellence' funded by National Instructional Media Institute, Ministry of Labour & Employment, GOI, Chennai, for the students and instructors of ITI all over India. As a researcher, he was the Principal Investigator of 11 research projects funded by ICAR-NIAP, ICAR-World bank, ICFRE-World bank, Tamil Nadu Forest department, Ministry of Labour and Employment (GOI), CIDA-Gulpeh, Canada and Private agencies. Dr. Vanangamudi has published 2 review papers, 35 research papers in International journals, 112 research papers in National journals, 29 popular articles in English and 53 in Tamil. He has written 40 books in English and 10 in Tamil. He has also written 11 technical bulletins in English and 29 in Tamil. About the Authors In recognition of his contribution in Agriculture Education, Research and Extension, he was awarded with Best PG teacher award in 1998 and Best scientist award in 1999 by TNAU; Best PG Teacher award 2000 by Madras Agricultural Students Union (MASU), Coimbatore; Best Seed Scientist award in 2003 by Hisar Agricultural University (HAU), Hisar; Tamil Nadu Scientist award in 2006 by Tamil Nadu Council for Science and Technology (TNCST), Chennai; Best Research Paper award in 2005 by Indian Society of Seed Technology (ISST), New Delhi and Bharat Ratna Dr. C. Subramaniam Best Teacher award in 2006 by Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), New Delhi. He is a recognized guide of Bharathiar University, Coimbatore; Bharathidasan University, Trichy and Forest Research Institute, Dehradun. He was a Research and Technical Consultant to Little's Orientals Balm and Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Chennai for seed priming, seed film coating and setting up of Seed Research Lab; to a farmer for 200 acres of farm land development; to a EU-KKID-Peace trust project for end term evaluation; and to a Kerala Forest Department project (World Bank) for developing training course syllabi and establishment of seed processing and testing units. He served as Senior Advisor and Consultant to Dr Mohan's Health care Products Pvt. Ltd., Chennai.

Dr. N. Chezhiyan worked as a Professor and Head, Department of Spices and Plantation crops, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore; and Professor and Head of Vegetable crops at Adhiparasakthi Agricultural College, Kalavai. He graduated B.Sc., (Agri.) in 1972 and Ph.D (Floriculture) in 1991 from TNAU, Coimbatore; M.Sc., (Horticulture) from Allahabad Agricultural Institute, Allahabad. Dr. N. Chezhiyan served in TNAU in various capacities including Professor and Head, Horticultural Reasearch Station, Thadiyankudisai for 30 years since 1979 to 2008. He also served as an Agricultural officer in the Department of Agriculture, Government of Tamil Nadu from 1972 to 1976. He has rich experience in teaching, research and extension; and guided 18 M.Sc., (Horticulture) students and 16 Ph. D scholars in Horticulture. Two of his Ph.D scholars were awarded with ICAR Jawaharlal Nehru award for best thesis in Pomology. He released 13 varieties in fruits, vegetables, spices and flower crops. He has published 175 research papers in International and National journals, 9 books and 150 popular articles. Dr. Chezhiyan attended 20 trainings and 20 workshops/seminars; and organized 35 trainings and 20 workshops/seminars. He served as a member of Academic Council and Board of Studies (Horticulture), TNAU, Coimbatore.

M. Kokila is now working as Junior Research Fellow, Trinity Cultural Academy, Coimbatore. She graduated B.Sc., (Agri.) from Agricultural College and Research Institute (TNAU), Kudumiyanmalai, Pudukkottai in 2019. She has participated in Personality Development Workshop held on 21st & 22nd January 2019 in AC & RI, Kudumiyanmalai and undergone a Industrial training at an Industrial Tie-Up Programme with J. M. Industry, at Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu. She has undergone ten days internship with NGO (Vrutti). She has conducted training to the farmers on seedling treatment with biofertilizer, sugarcane trash composting during her UG program at KVK, Vamban. She also served as a National Service Scheme volunteer (2015-17) and committee leader in various college functions (2018-2019).

P. Shyni, graduated B.Sc., (Agriculture) in 2018 from Agricultural College & Research Institute, Kudumiyanmalai, Pudukkottai district, a constituent college of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. She worked as Junior Research Fellow in the scheme 'Restoration of Genetic Quality of Dr. Mohan's High Fibre Rice (DMHFR) using rapid generation advance method' funded by Dr. Mohan's Health Care Products Pvt Ltd, Chennai, from Sep 2018- May 2019. At present, she is working as Junior Research Fellow in the Production of sufficient and nutritious forage for university dairy farm and production of quality nucleus, breeders and truthfully labeled seeds/planting materials of forage crops, (VCS- V60 AE) scheme at the Department of Forage Crops, TNAU, Coimbatore. She has served as Entertainment Secretary during 2014-2016 and Dramatic Secretary during 2016-2017 in students' club of Agricultural College & Research Institute, Kudumiyanmalai, Pudukkottai.

S. Kamalesh, graduated B.Sc., (Horticulture) in 2017 from Vanavarayar Institute of Agriculture, Manakkadavu, Pollachi, an affiliated college of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. He is currently pursuing M.Sc., (Horticulture) in Department of Plantation, Spices, Medicinal and Aromatic crops at Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. He had also prepared for Civil services examination at Shankar IAS Academy, Chennai. He had volunteered for Smile Foundation and Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Anaikatti, Tamil Nadu. He had served as Library Coordinator and Horticulture club coordinator in Student's Guild of Service at Vanavarayar Institute of Agriculture, Manakkadavu, Pollachi. He is a violin enthusiast too.