A Sowmiya

Currently working as a Technical Assistant at the Directorate of Agriculture, Chennai under the Soil Health and Fertility Scheme of Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Yojana (PM-RKVY) since August 2025. The role involves daily monitoring and follow-up of Soil Health Card portal data, preparation of daily, weekly, and monthly reports of Soil Testing Laboratories (STLs) and Mobile Soil Testing Laboratories (MSTLs) under NADP and KAVIADP schemes, and compilation of laboratory progress reports. Responsibilities also include preparation of review meeting reports and meeting minutes in coordination with CCL, preparation and maintenance of official reports, UC and SPARSH reports as per the instructions of the Additional Director of Agriculture, Assistant Director of Agriculture, and Agricultural Officers, maintenance of administrative records and official documents, communication with departmental officials for data collection and updates, and assistance to senior officers in programme monitoring, reporting, and other administrative activities related to soil health management programmes.

Worked as a Senior Research Fellow at ICAR-KVK under the scheme entitled “Sustaining the Income of the Farmers of JSW Operational Area through Integrated Farming System (IFS).” The role involved organizing and conducting farmers’ awareness programmes, technical trainings for lead farmers and Community Resource Persons (CRPs), and facilitating capacity-building activities for farming communities. Responsibilities included conducting On-Farm Trials (OFTs) and Frontline Demonstrations (FLDs) to promote improved agricultural technologies and integrated farming practices, providing crop advisories and technical guidance to farmers, organizing exposure visits for farmers, and conducting seminars and extension meetings in coordination with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) and Department of Agriculture programmes. Also handled the maintenance and management of various Integrated Farming System units including biocontrol production unit, roof garden unit, poultry unit, vermicompost unit, honey bee rearing unit, azolla cultivation unit, and organic input production unit for demonstration, training, and farmer support activities.

Conducted research at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University during 2022–2023 on the role of natural silicon in the management of rice yellow stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulas, under organic production systems. The study evaluated the efficacy of natural silicon in reducing pest infestation, enhancing crop growth and yield, inducing biophysical and biochemical resistance mechanisms, and promoting herbivore-induced plant volatile (HIPV) mediated attraction of natural enemies. Results revealed that combined soil and foliar application of silicon significantly reduced stem borer damage, increased natural enemy population and parasitization, improved plant growth and yield attributes, enhanced defensive enzyme activity and phenol content, and induced silica deposition in plant tissues. GC-MS and olfactometer studies further confirmed that silicon-treated plants emitted HIPVs that effectively attracted parasitoids such as Trichogramma japonicum and Telenomus remus, thereby strengthening eco-friendly pest management in organic rice cultivation.