On September 10, 2025, the Department of Agricultural Engineering organized a Guest Lecture on “Hi-Tech Horticulture: Opportunities and Challenges in Next-Gen Farmers.” The resource person for the session was Dr. K. Velmurugan, Senior Scientist & Professor and Head, KVK, Namakkal.
The event was coordinated by Mr. N. Satheswaran and Mr. B. Mano, Assistant Professors, Department of Agricultural Engineering. The session was held at Kalam’s Chamber, Paavai Engineering College, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
The programme commenced with a prayer song, followed by a welcome address delivered by Dr. B. Kailashkumar, Head of the Department. The Presidential Address was delivered by Dr. M. Premkumar, Principal, Paavai Engineering College, who also felicitated the resource person with a memento.
Dr. K. Velmurugan began his lecture by highlighting the emerging role of hi-tech horticulture in ensuring sustainable food security and profitability for next-generation farmers. He elaborated on innovative practices such as protected cultivation, hydroponics, vertical farming, and precision nutrient management.
He emphasized the wide range of opportunities in hi-tech horticulture, including agribusiness startups, export-oriented horticulture, adoption of smart greenhouses, and the application of AI and IoT in crop monitoring. At the same time, he addressed the challenges, such as high initial investment, energy demand, skilled manpower requirements, and the need for strong market linkages.
Dr. Velmurugan advised students aspiring to enter this field to focus on developing technical expertise in automation tools, climate control systems, fertigation technology, and data-driven decision-making. He also underlined the importance of internships, field exposure, and collaborations with agritech companies to gain real-world experience.
The session was highly interactive, with students asking questions about the scope of hydroponics startups, government schemes for hi-tech horticulture, and career opportunities in protected cultivation industries.
The programme was attended by 185 students and 12 faculty members, who gained valuable insights into the future prospects of hi-tech horticulture and its potential to transform the agricultural sector.
The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by G. Yasodha, IV Year, Agricultural Engineering, who expressed gratitude to the resource person, faculty coordinators, and participants for making the session highly informative and inspiring.
