A Master Trainers hand-on workshop was organised by MSSRF on January 12, 2023, at the Pudukkottai Village Resource Centre (VRC) to create awareness about the Pest-disease Advance Notification and Need-based Agriculture Information Application (otherwise called PANNAI App) and provide training on how to use the application features on their mobile phones.

PANNAI App was developed by MSSRF and is an android-based tool that helps in Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which includes GIS-based insect and disease forecasting systems as well as weather data, to empower farmers with the knowledge and tools to effectively manage the health of their crops.

MSSRF is instrumental in providing digital services for agriculture and animal husbandry through mobile-based audio advisories, phone-in programmes, farmer helpline services, audio and video conferences, video-based learning, farmer WhatsApp groups, and digital plant clinics, and has connected farmers and experts for advice and solutions.

Veeramuthu, District President of the Tamil Nadu Science Forum, inaugurated the Master Trainers workshop, which was attended by 30 farmers including youth farmers, knowledge workers and staff from Pudukkottai and Thiruvaiyaru’s VRCs. These men and women Master Trainers will in turn provide training to other farmers in their respective villages on using PANNAI App effectively.

Nagarajan, Head of MSSRF’s GIS (Geographic Information System) and Remote Sensing division, along with S. Punitha (Scientist – MSSRF) provided the training. Dr. R. Rajkumar, Principal Scientist at MSSRF, highlighted the continuous effort of M S Swaminathan Research Foundation to encourage the uptake of digital agriculture among small and marginal farmers. The workshop ended with follow-up observations and action points from T. Vimala, Field Coordinator, while M. Murugan, Development Associate, proposed the vote of thanks.