PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988-2001 10 PRA: an approach to find felt needs of crop varieties

Document begins: PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988­2001 10 PRA: an approach to find felt needs of crop varieties M. Manoharan, K. Velayudham and N. Shunmugavalli Background area. The settlement is surrounded by facilities such as school buildings, mosque, temple, In agriculture, the need for identification of church, clinic, cinema, theatre and playground. location specific problems and analysing them The outsiders or migrants live in the southern in their own environment is increasingly felt in side of the main settlement. They are not research planning. PRA, which is informal in permitted to construct houses in the main its approach, helps scientists to know about settlement area. villages quicker than conventional methods through interviews. Understanding the Major issues advantages of PRA is giving momentum to its use in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University During the discussion some villagers (TNAU) research planning. mentioned that the villagers' physique had decreased due to consumption of white rice. TNAU is the main institute for agricultural Then the PRA team was interested to know research in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. more about food habits. The farmers said that Research in TNAU is planned at the regional local red rice varieties were cultivated until level in seven such ...