Lok Sabha Question No. 3064 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-11
Subject: Agri-Tech Innovation and Groundwater Mapping for Perambalur
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Thiru Arun Nehru

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3064 ANSWERED ON 11/03/2026

## AGRI-TECH INNOVATION AND GROUNDWATER MAPPING FOR PERAMBALUR

## 3064.  THIRU ARUN NEHRU:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has conducted any specialized study or pilot project on precision farming for Small Onions and Maize in the Perambalur region to reduce post-harvest losses and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the funds allocated under the Vigyan Dhara scheme for supporting local science-based startups or innovators in the TiruchirappalliPerambalur region;
- (c) whether  the  Government,  through  ISRO's  National  Remote  Sensing Centre (NRSC), has shared updated high-resolution groundwater mapping data for  the  drought-prone  Thuraiyur  and  Perambalur  blocks  with  the  State Government in the last 12 months and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether there is any plan to establish a Science and Technology Rural Outreach  Centre  in  Perambalur  to  promote  STEM  education  among  rural students in the SC-reserved assembly segments and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) The Department of Science and Technology has established a Centre of Excellence  on  climate  and  disaster  resilient  agriculture  in  Tamil  Nadu Agriculture University (TNAU) during 2024-25 for five years. The Centre is demonstrating climate resilient technologies viz., crop and weather advisory, climate resilient crop varieties, Water saving land configuration technologies, mulching,  crop  residue  recycling,  nutrient  smart  practices,  solar  power operated sprayer and weeder in the state of Tamil Nadu including Perambalur district. It is providing village level weather forecast to 152 revenue villages in Perambalur district. The forecast information includes rainfall, minimum and maximum temperature, wind speed and relative humidity for the next 6

days. A total of 1,198 farmers from Perambalur District are registered under TNAU-Automated Agromet Advisory Service (TNAU - AAS) and receive crop and stage-specific weather-based agro advisories.

In  addition,  the  Indian  Institute  of  Food  Processing  Technology  (IIFPT), Thanjavur, under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), has set up a 'Small Onion' processing incubation centre in Chettikulam, Perambalur. It reduces post-harvest losses, promotes value addition, and trains farmers/FPOs  in  handling,  processing,  dehydration,  packaging,  and  valueadded products to boost income and market linkages.

- (b) Under the National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) program of DST, 4 startups / innovators have been provided financial support of Rs. 94.2 lakh under Vigyan Dhara scheme.
- (c) The  Government  of  India,  through  the  Central  Ground  Water  Board (CGWB) and in collaboration with ISRO-NRSC, has institutionalized a process of  dynamic  groundwater  resource  estimation  and  mapping.  ISRO-NRSC, through platforms such as Bhuvan-Bhujal and the Bhuvan Geoportal, provides access to nationwide groundwater prospects maps and associated datasets to authorized Government users. The national Water Informatics Centre(NWIC) under Ministry of Jalshakti, Department of Water Resources, RD&GR  provides  updated  data  on  water  resources  in  the  Indian  states including Thuraiyur and Perambalur block of Tamil Nadu. The State Ground and  Surface  Water  Resource  Data  Centre  (SG&SWRDC),  Water  Resources Department-Tharamani  and  Central  Ground  Water  Board,  South  Eastern Coastal Region, Chennai have published "Report on Dynamic Groundwater Resources of Tamil Nadu 2024" in February 2025. Link to assess the report : 17482438881618904436file.pdf
- (d) The  Tamil  Nadu  State  Council  for  Science  and  Technology  runs initiatives such as science expos, innovation programs, to popularize science among  rural  communities  of  Tamil  Nadu.  The  Tamil  Nadu  Science  and Technology  Centre  under  Higher  Education  Department  of  Tamil  Nadu established  Innovation  Hubs  at  cost  of  Rs.  1.80Crore  at  Regional  Science Centre, Coimbatore and Rs. 1.50 Crore in Anna Science Centre- Planetarium, Tiruchirappalli to facilitate student learning, and understanding of Science, Technology and Innovation. Both Innovation Hubs have held STEM Robotics camps,  teaching students coding, 3D printing, Robotics, Drones and Electronics.

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