Field Placement- Linking Classroom education and its application to the field: An internship around “Unique Team learning “by ADAC and RI students

Observation of Vermi compost production in Marutham farm

The 12 students of final year girl students of Anbil Dharma lingam Agricultural College and Research Institute established under the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University situated at Navalur Kuttappattu in Tiruchirapalli were camping for their internship in Arumbuhalnagar near Sirugamani at the premises SEVAI community college. The Brilliant and energetic 12 students of Anbil Dharma lingam Agricultural College and Research Institute named T.Preethio Priya Dharshini, S.Arivuselvi, and P.Krishnaveni, S.Sudha, N.Praga, R.Poonghuzhali, S.Manimegalai, P.Subhadhanu.K.Latha, R.Nandini, R.Parameswari and M.P.Munny  took part in their internship and field visit with positive attitude of giving and taking ideas from the farming/SEVAI NGO  community. These students have young shoulders with matured heads and importantly enjoyed their studies and field placements and fulfilling their field assignments with fullest dedication. These 12 girl students were well prepared before the internship with SEVAI, Ngo and its target villages such as Arumbuhalnagar, Kamanaickanpalalaym, S, Pudkottai, Sirugamani and Sirukadu villages. Thanks for the pre-preparation of the internship orientation of these 12 girl students by Dr.Nithila, Group Facilitator and Dr.Aavudaithai, NGO organizer of ADAC and RI under the guidance of its Dean Dr.Jayapal.  It is significant to note that these students placed in SEVAI those are in final year of their under graduation drew connections between their classroom education and its application to their chosen field. During internships in Arumbuhalnagar in SEVAI these 12 students gained valuable professional experiences and skills, Developed problem solving skills by working on real field problems, Practiced the communication and interpersonal with professional skills. This Internship Program involved setting the students practical learning objectives such as Organic farming practices undertaken in this region in Banana, rice etc and the production of vermin compost, Panchakavya, Jeevamirtham and Fish manure and application of Bio manure for the rice cultivation by SEVAI Marutham farming centre and the neighborhood farming communities.

It is significant to note that the Anbil Dharma lingam Agricultural College and Research Institute guiding team,Dr.Nithila, Group Facilitator and Dr.Aavudaithai, NGO organizer of ADAC and RI under the guidance of its Dean Dr.Jayapal and other professors had close interaction with SEVAI NGO and also with their students in  in planning their  field level program and approving the learning objectives, Observing the intern's progress by making field  visits and/ phone contacts during the internship and         Evaluated students experience.A.Pichaimani of Arumbuhalnagar, a progressive farmer said that these 12 students had shown interest in the practical aspects of organic farming especially in the application of Panchakavya and Jeevamirtam and he had enlightened the students that organic farming helps to increase the yield and nutritive value. In his farm he has raised banana crop using organic fertilisers. He found that the yield and quality of the crop was good. He has raised Rani Poovan and Nendran variety of bananas on 2.0 acres and three acres respectively in his farm adopting organic farming methods. The yield is 30% more than normal farming. The students also visited a progressive farmer K.Rangaiyan of S.Pudukottai and visited his sugarcane filed.Rangaian said Sugar cane grows best in warm, sunny, frost-free weather. It needs fertile, well-drained soil and at least 1000 millimeters of rain each year or access to irrigation supplies. These ideal conditions are found along the S.Pudukotai Village. Young sugarcane needs plenty of moisture and protection from weeds. He uses a cultivator implement which is hitched to a tractor to break up the soil and uproot weeds. He produces around 60 tonnes of sugar cane per acre and he is satisfied with his sugarcane cultivation. The Ngo Head Dr.K.Govindaraju said that these students were very active in social projects too and interaction with their peers in Arumbuhalnagar community. They also had interaction with international business school students and faculties of ICHEC Brussels those live and work in school building project of Arumbuhalnagar.They also interacted with Union Civil service third rank topper Dr.Varunkumar during his visit to Arumbuhalnagar.-Govin