Workshop participants with Director K. Subrahmaniyan and faculty members of the Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute (TRRI) inside the institute hall in Thanjavur.
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement
The Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute (TRRI), Aduthurai, has completed a 26-day residential skill training programme in scientific seed production for rural youth.
The on-campus course, titled “Seed Grower”, was held from October 13 to November 19 for 25 youth from Thanjavur district. Funded by the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation (TNSDC) under the “Vetri Nichayam” scheme for people in the 18-35 age group, the programme concluded with a final assessment at the institute on November 24.
According to institute officials, the training aimed to prepare participants as seed production entrepreneurs. Sessions covered genetic purity maintenance, agronomic and plant protection practices for quality seed production, hybrid and organic seed production, seed certification, seed storage and testing, and marketing aspects.
Participants were taken on exposure visits to a seed storage godown, Food Corporation of India facility, seed testing laboratory, and a farmer producer company in Thanjavur to familiarise them with institutional systems and business opportunities.
Under the TNSDC Skill Voucher Programme, eligible candidates receive vouchers of up to ₹12,000 to offset training costs, and those from vulnerable groups are eligible for an additional incentive of ₹6,000, credited through Direct Benefit Transfer on successful completion. Assessment was done through a mobile application-based system with Aadhaar validation, followed by one-to-one viva voce by a TNSDC-nominated assessor. All 25 candidates passed and received merit certificates.
Director K. Subrahmaniyan said the institute would now focus on facilitating placements and helping the trainees become successful seed producers. The programme was coordinated by Senior Professor R. Arunachalam.
Published – November 28, 2025 07:04 pm IST
