Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) has launched a portal, on a pilot basis in three sub-basins in Tamil Nadu, to answer farmers' queries.

The 'E-Velanmai' (e-agriculture) is based on an application of ICT tools for solving farmers' problems,answering all queries and clearing their doubnts, as part of Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernisation and Water Bodies Restoration and Management project funded by World Bank.

Being the first such in the Country, through E-Velanmai methodology,farmers would save their time in approaching extension centres of either the State Department of Agriculture or TNAU, its Vice-Chancellor, DrMurugesa Bhoopathi said.

Instead farmers can sent digital photos of the pest and disease problem from their fields to TNAU directly for which scientists can give solution immediately.

Currently, the project, which is being operated in a few sub-basins, is planned to be upscaled to cover all the sub-basins and it is also planned to send a proposal to the State government to extend the service to entire Tamil Nadu, he said.

There are 80 lakh farm holdings in Tamil Nadu and it was not possible for extension worker to reach each and every farmer, which has resulted in a wide gap in technology transfer,Bhoopathi said.