THE State will soon take steps to introduce e-agriculture. This is part of reforms meant to equip agri-extension centres with hi-tech facilities so as to train farmers in modern farming methods, said Surjit K Chowdry, Secretary of Agriculture of the TN Government. Talking to journalists here on the sidelines of the Annual Rose Show, he said these hi-tech agri-extension centres would be established in 385 blocks in the state to cater to the needs of the agricultural community in tune with scientific farming. The main thrust of scientific agriculture is to increase productivity to upgrade qual , ity and to enhance marketing facilities to ensure that farmers earn good revenue through agriculture. In Nilgiris, the need of the hour was to ex plore the possibilities of converting the 3,600 rose varieties into commercial cutrose varieties to promote rose cultivation. Under the National Horticulture Mission, Rs 120 crore has been earmarked for the current fiscal, the secretary said. Chowdry said the horticulture department would try a joint venture project with Tea Board and UPASI to come out with economically viable machines for tea plucking.