Parliament Question: Agri-Tech Innovation and Groundwater Mapping for Perambalur

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 Tiruchirappalli- Perambalur 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 Page 1 of 2days. 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 value- added 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. ***** Page 2 of 2