Web: www.kau.edu Vol. XVIX. ISSUE 3 email: pro@kau.in

KAU NEWSJuly 2013

Twelve more varieties of crops released

INSIDE

Page 2: Research news

Page 3: ShyamasundaranNair memorial lecture, NewCentre of Excel lence,National meet on Jackfruit,RPAC meet and MoU foragri impliments.

Page 4: GC meeting, PRTvisit, Vellayani Award functionand Ayushmathi programme

Page5: Awardees hon-oured, New facilities atThiruvalla ARS, CoF Studentsin Cambridge conference,Fellowships for CoH studentsand Village stay programme.

Page 6: Model Spice nurs-ery, Award for KAU Honey-bee centre, Lecture on agripolicies and Massive affor-estation initiative.

Keramrutham to grace Kerala markets soonGovernment of Kerala has accorded Administrative and Technical sanc-

tion for the project to set up three pilot projects on demonstration, training,production and distribution of Neera.

The 540 lakhs worth pilot project envisages three units at Pilicode,Vellanikkara and Vellayani. Dr. Jayaprakash Naik, Associate Director in chargeof Coconut Mission will be the Principal Investigator of the project.Dr. P. R. Suresh, Dr. K. Aravindakshan and Dr. BabuMathew will be theCo-Principal Investigators in the three regional centres.

The KAU Technology is the safest method for arresting the fermentationof coconut inflorescence sap. Keramrutham, the KAU brand Neera, is asuperior and delicious health drink than tender coconut water. It contains15-18% of total sugars, 1.3mg/100 ml of Vitamin C, 90.5ppm Potassium,60 ppm of Calcium, 15ppm of Phosphorous, 45ppm of Iron and 9.5ppm ofSodium which is appreciably higher than tender coconut water. ThusKeramrutham can serve as a natural sports drink as well.

Minister K. P. Mohanan addressingthe workshop on native aromatic ricevarieties

Twelve more crop varieties developed byKAU has been cleared for release. The clear-ance was accorded by the State committeeon release of crop varieties and seeds headedby the Agricultural Production Commis-sioner which met on July 15. The list includesone variety each of Rice, Coconut,Snakegourd, Chilli, Ginger, Asoka, FodderCowpea & Rice bean and two varieties eachof Tomato and Pepper.

The rice variety, Ezhome-3 developed at CoA,Padannakkad is meant for Kaippad tracts of northernMalabar. It is tolerant to salinity and lodging with anaverage yield of 4.3t/ha. Keramadhura isa green dwarf coconut variety preferredfor tender nuts developed at RARS,Pilicode. Panniyur 8 a pepper varietydeveloped at PRS, Panniyur, is tolerant

to drought and quick wilt diseasewhile Vijay, a variety developed at CoH,Vellanikkara is high yielding and haslarge berries. Manulakshmy, developed byscientists at ARS, Mannuthy, has largest

fruit size among bacterial wilt resistant tomato. HarithaSree is a snakegourd variety for green fruitpreferred areas, Akshaya, another Tomoto variety, Aswathy,a variety of Ginger and Aswini 1, a variety of Asoka weredeveloped by scientists at College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara. Vellayani Thejus, a shadetolerant chilly variety with highly pun-gent round shaped fruits, Aiswarya, avariety of Fodder Cowpea with 18.5%protein content and Rice Bean variety

Workshop on Native varieties of aromatic riceMinister moots branding and trading mechanism

Minister for Agriculture, K. P.Mohanan assured all support forthe steps proposed to enhanceproduction of traditional aromaticrice varieties and ensure optimumreturns to the farmer. He wasdelivering the valedictory addressin the workshop on cultivation andexport of aromatic rice varietiesof Kerala held at Directorate ofExtension on 21 June. Ministersaid that the recommendations of

Surabhi with protein content of 18.9% were developedat College of Agriculture, Vellayani.

These new varieties add to the 271 crop varietiesreleased by KAU till 2011. Some more varieties are atdifferent stages of development and farm trials

the workshop will be implemented on a prioritybasis. ‘Once we ensure sustained supply and brandingthe income will increase, more farmers will beattracted and a brand will evolve. Organic productsare sought after everywhere and hence marketing isnot an issue once branding is done’ he said.

The workshop jointly organised by KAU andAPEDA formulated a series of recommendationsfor reviving and sustaining the cultivation of tradi-tional aromatic varieties, especially the famed

Jeerakasala and Gandhakasala ofWayanad. The need to assure thefarmers of support at times ofdistress and minimum support pricewas highlighted. It was also resolvedto institute a mechanism to ensuresupply of quality seed and properfunctioning of apex bodies.

A.K.Guptha, Director, BasumatiExporters’ Development Foundation mooted a healthy, transparent andtrust worthy bondage between the

key players for common gain and sustainable farming.Dr.P.Rajendran, KAU Vice-Chancellor inaugurated

the workshop. Dr. P. V. Balachandran, Director ofExtension, Dr. T. R. Gopalakrishnan, Director ofResearch, Dr. Jose Mathew and Dr. A. M. Ranjith spoke.The Farmers from Wayanad, Officers of theagriculture department, representatives of millers andtraders took part in the workshop. A Rice farmingCalendar prepared by Communication Centre wasalso released by the Minister.

Keramadhura

Manulakshmy

Vellayani Thejus

Vijay

RESEARCH BUZZ- News from Labs & Field• Central Zone ZREAC, which met at Regional Agricultural

Research Station, Pattambi on July 19 has recommended anew saline tolerant rice variety suitable for kole lands yieldingmore than 6 tons per ha, a new hybrid of salad cucumber forgreen house cultivation yielding more than 3kg per plant, twoselections of small fruited ash gourd evolved out of materialscollected from Himachal Pradesh and 5 high yielding hybridsfor release. Carrot variety Pusa Nayanjyothi has been foundsuitable for Kerala conditions during October-December.

An integrated pest management schedule is proposed for rice. While a new combination fungicide has been recommendedfor the control of blast and sheath blight in rice Pre emergentweedicides containing Pretilachlor has been recommendedfor cow pea. Priming of bitter gourd and Chilly seeds hasbeen found helpful for disease management.

Combination herbicides containing Bensulfuron methyl andpretilachlor have also been cleared for field testing. Twofungicides Propineb and Hexaconazole and a combinationproduct of carbendazim and mancozeb will be field testedagainst brown spot in rice. The committee cautioned farmersabout the large scale outbreak of mite attack observed in riceand banana during last year. Management strategies are beingworked out for combating the threat.

• A pre seeded sheet technology with significant yieldadvantage and low cost transplanting and weedingoperations has been developed as a substitute forconventional crop establishment methods. 2 seeds of paddyis manually fixed at 20x20 cm spacing using approximately

• Two cucumber hybrids viz. Hybrid-1with a fruit length of 19.5 cm and lightgreen colour and a yield of 10.04 kg/plantunder open condition and 11.27kg/plantunder rain shelter and Hybrid- 2 with fruitlength of 12.45 cm, whitish green colourand a yield of 16.5 kg/plant under opencondition and 19.54 kg/plant under rainshelter, have progressed to farm trial.

• The high yielding white fruited F1 hybrid of bittergourd(MNBH-1 and MNBH-2) from ARS, Mannuthy was recom-mended for farm trial in the central Zone of Kerala. MN BH-1(Mannuthy Bittergourd Hybrid - 1) is a white coloured F1hybrid with an average fruit weight of 275 gram. The averagefruit girth is 18.3cm. The hybrid with a potential yield of33 tons/ha. MN BH-2 is a green coloured F1 hybrid havingan average fruit weight of 275 gram. The average fruit lengthis 30 cm and the potential yield is 27 tons/ha.

• A model for Multipurpose tree based black pepperproduction system suitable for warm humid tropical

condition has beenstandardised at CoF,Ve l l a n i k k a r a . Thetechnology involvesplanting of three monthold tree seedlingsAcacia auriculiformis and/orArtocarpus heterophyllus atspacing of 3mx3m in pits

of size 30x30x30 cm during the onset of monsoon. BlackPepper (var. Karimunda) should be trailed on all support treesfrom the second year of tree planting. Annual lopping (60 %)of trees during May is recommended.

• One green and long fruited chilli culture CC 85 withpurple patches yielding 334 g/ plant and resistant to leafcurl virus has progressed to Multilocational Trial and Farmtrial.

2 gm fresh cow dungand vermicompost asadhesives on 1x1 m2

size organic sheet madefrom waste paper pulp,bio waste like coir pith,water hyacinth, driedcoconut leaf etc.

Calocybe indica. The maximumyield was recorded byC.gambosa (112per centBiological Efficiency) and97percent in C.indica. Theunpleasant odour of C. indicais not present in C gambosa.

• Paclobutrazol application @5g a.i./tree as soil drenchduring September was found beneficial for improvingflowering, fruit set and yields in mango varieties Prior, Alphonsaand Neelum. Ethrel@1 ml a.i/m3 or pressurized ethylene +CO2 was found to induce uniform and early ripening in mangofruit.

• An imaginative green shelter to scare birds damaging paddynursery away have been developed by FPME Dept at KCAE&T, Tavanur as a part of research project DIFM Package forKerala. Manually fabricated green shelter of lightweight

covers a paddy nursery of 3.6 M2. It also protects the nurseryfrom rainfall and allows the seedlings to grow in sufficientsunlight.

• Introgressed the Sal Tol gene of pokkali for salt tolerance into Jyothy, the widely accepted variety through MarkerAssisted Selection and the nucleus seed is ready formultiplication and field evaluation.

• Application of new pesticide molecules viz. Flubendiamide +Buprofezein@24gai/ha against BPH, stem borer and whorlmaggot was found to be effective in rice and recommended forinclusion in POP

• The strains of Milky mushroom, Calocybe gambosa vizMMK and MMV and Calocybe indica (control) are found to beattractive in colour, keeping quality and market value andvery low pest and disease incidence. Calocybe gambosa (strain

MMK) took more time (two tofour days) for spawn run andprimordial formation, out yieldedCalocybe indica. The sporophoresof Calocybe gambosa are morerobust and larger than that of

consisting of aluminumframe of size 3.66 x 1.00 x0.20m and is covered by ashade net. Along the longi-tudinal length of the frame,arch shaped GI wires at awidth of 0.75m are fixed byscrews to support the shadenet. One such shelter

Page 2 K A U N E W S July 2013

CentCentCentCentCentrrrrre fe fe fe fe for Exor Exor Exor Exor Excececececellllllllllence inence inence inence inence inEnEnEnEnEnvirvirvirvirvironmentonmentonmentonmentonmental Eal Eal Eal Eal EconomicsconomicsconomicsconomicsconomicsKAU has instituted a Centre of Excellence in

Environmental Economics (CEEE) to undertakeactive research in environmental protection

through natural resource management.The Centre, established with full financial

support from Department of Environment andClimate change, Government of Kerala, aimsgeneration, compilation and interpretation of

data on key environmental attributes to supportpolicy decisions in environment management.

KAU Vice-Chancellor Dr. P. Rajendran saidthat the new Centre will specifically focus on

areas like organic farming, sustainable agricul-ture, conservation of land, water and forest

resources. The centre will also organizetraining programme for LSGI members,

Government Officials and academics. Theoutreach programmes include educational and

action programmes in collaboration withprominent NGOs and institutions. Dr. P Indira

Devi heads the new centre, attached to CoH,Vellanikkara.

Rural Programme Advisory Committee(RPAC) meeting of the Farm and HomeProgramme of Thiruvananthapuram AIR washosted by KAU at CoA, Vellayani on WorldEnvironment Day. The meeting, held as partof the module on Media Attachment underRAWE Programme, was inaugurated by Dr.Sverup John, Dean. AIR Station DirectorR. Vimalasenan Nair presided over theprogramme and Dr. R. Prakash, Head,Agricultural Extension administered WorldEnvironment Day Pledge.

The weekly broadcast serial ‘SukhinoBhavanthu’ was inaugurated byP. Gopinathan Nair, Chairman, KeralaGandhi Smarak Nidhi. Dr. K. PratapanDirector, SHM – Kerala received the firstcopy of brochure on the serial fromR. Heli, former Director of Agriculture. Fiftyrepresentatives of different developmentdepartments participated. Dr. V.B.Padmanabhan, Professor welcomed themembers and Muraleedharan Thazhakara,Programme Executive, AIR proposed voteof thanks.

R. Heli releasing the brochure on New AIR serialSukhino bhavanthu

RP RP RP RP RPAC MeetingAC MeetingAC MeetingAC MeetingAC Meeting Held at V Held at V Held at V Held at V Held at Vellayaniellayaniellayaniellayaniellayani

Mass production of agricultural implements

KAU signs MoU with KAMCO, Metal Industries

Dr.K.N.Shyamasundaran Nair Memmorial LectureEnhance aid for Agri research: C.P John

Research development in agriculture needsenhanced financial support as it is vital foradvancement of economy, said C. P. John, stateplanning board member. He was delivering theeighth Dr. K. N. Shyamasundaran NairMemorial Lecture at CoA, Vellayani on July 24.

Describing Dr. Shyamasundaran Nair as avisionary who planned agricultural developmentof the state through agroclimatic zonation andan ever relevant report on Rice Cultivation,C. P. John said that contributions of KAU in

C.P.John delivering the 8thDr. K. N. Shyamasundaran NairEndowment lecture

increasing productivity of major crops through persistent interventions cannot andshould not be forgotten.

C. P. John outlined the premises on which the 2030 vision of agriculture devel-opment in the state will be based and the changes that are to happen in the Keralafarming, farmers, crops and infrastructure as skilled agripreneures and value chainbased farming with mechanization are set to evolve a new trend.

KAU Vice-chancellor Dr. P. Rajendran presided over the function and highlightedthe farsighted leadership Dr. K. N. Shayamasundaran Nair had imparted as the Vice-chancellor of KAU. Dr. Sverup John, Dean (Agriculture); Dr. Arthur Jacob, Assoc.Director of Research; Dr. S. Mothilal Nehru, Assoc. Director of Extension, andDr. P. S. Geethakutty, Head, Centre for Gender Studies spoke.

The national consultation meet on Jack organized by ICARon June 1 at Banana Research station, Kannara was inaugu-rated by Dr. N. K. Krishnakumar, DDG ( Horticulture).

Pointing out that Jack, despite being a versatile crop, has notattracted research endeavors it deserves, he called forstudies and research to identify types ideal for modern homes,spread awareness on nutritional and medicinal qualities of

EncourEncourEncourEncourEncourage Rage Rage Rage Rage Researesearesearesearesearch on Jack Fch on Jack Fch on Jack Fch on Jack Fch on Jack Fruitruitruitruitruit: DDG: DDG: DDG: DDG: DDG

jackfruit and explore industrial use for the latex. Dr. Krishnakumar said that ICAR is eagerto patronize fundamental, applied and strategic research on Jackfruit.

Dr. T. R. Gopalakrishnan, KAU Director of Research, presided over the inauguralsession. Dr.Chithiraiselvan, Director, IIHR, Bangalore delivered the key note address.Dr. M. C. Narayanankutty, Associate Director of Research (Central Zone) offeredwelcome and Dr. Prakash Patil, IIHR proposed vote of thanks.

Technical sessions were conducted on the Achievements, status and roadmap in Role ofJackfruit in health and nutrition, Jackfruit- an emerging food crop in international scenario,Genetic resources and production of Jackfruit and value addition and marketing. Successstories in jack cultivation, processing and marketing were also presented.

KAU Signed MoUs with Kerala Agro Machinery Cor-poration (KAMCO) and Metal Industries Kerala Ltd forthe mass production of two agricultural implements idealfor rural farming.

The MoU signed By KAU Registrar Dr. E. K. Mathewand KAMCO Managing Director N. K. Manoj envisagesmass production of Bed former, an attachment to minitractor, while the MoU signed by Metal Industries MD Muhammed Anoop Naha and KAURegistrar targets mass production of modified coconut climber. The devices were devel-oped by Dr. P. R. Jayan, Assoc. Professor, Department of FPME, KCAE & T, Tavanur underDIFM package funded by State Planning Board.

KAU Vice-Chancellor Dr. P. Rajendran, who presided over the MoU signing ceremony, saidthat the University is inclined to strengthen industry linkage with PSUs like KAMCO, RAIDCOand Metal Industries. Dr. T. R. Gopalakrishnan, Director of Research; Dr. Joy Mathew, Comptrol-ler; KAMCO General Manager M. K. Sashikumar, Manager ( Tractor division) N. Rajeev; MetalIndustries Chairman Marakkar Marayamangalam and Works Manager M. Sajith Participated.

July 2013 K A U N E W S Page 3

Page 4 K A U N E W S July 2013

KAU Gen-eral Councilmeeting held atGovernmentGuest House,Thycaud on 27July decided toinitiate timebound steps tofill the back log

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Vice-Chancellor, flanked by EC members & Registrar, Clarifies a point inGC Meet

in reserved quota of appointments and solvescarcity of academic staff in colleges andresearch stations. The regulations forrecruitment of teachers in the faculties ofForestry and Agricultural Engineering wereapproved by the council.

Vice-Chancellor Dr. P. Rajendran in-formed the house that 32.50 crores out ofthe 100 crore special grant sanctioned byCentral Government is earmarked forstudents welfare activities. The council wasassured that delay in construction activitieswill be avoided and efficiency will be ensured.

Twenty one KAU scientists who wondifferent awards and recognitions werehonoured by the council. The Annual

administration report for 2012-13 andworking report for the first quarter of 2013were approved.

The meeting chaired by the Vice-chancellor was attended by ExecutiveCommittee members Sony Sebastian,P. A. Salam, Baby Balambrath, E. K. Prakashand Dr. Jose Joseph, General Councilmembers Francis Kombara, K. Sunilkumar,Dr. Mary Regina, Dr. S. Devanesan,Dr. A. Anilkumar, Dr. Arthur Jacob,Dr. J i ju P Alex, V. S. Sathyaseelan,K . G i reendr ababu , P. G. Babura j ,M. N. Mohanan, I. K. Raveendraraj,Avinash Reji Thomas and P. A. Ramanibai,Registrar Dr. E. K. Mathew and otherofficers of the University.

The Centre for Gender Studies inAgriculture and Farm EntrepreneurshipDevelopment (CGSAFED) of KAU hasinitiated an innovative mission calledAyushmathi in collaboration with WomenSubcommittee of the Ayurveda MedicalAssociation of India to take up research onthe health issues and nutritional security ofwomen in agriculture.

The programme was inaugurated byKAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr. P. Rajendran on29th May, 2013 at College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara.

About 200 women staff, students and farmworkers of KAU were benefited from theawareness classes and free medical checkup.Importance of adopting healthy food patternin the various reproductive phases of women’slife, food habit related diseases prevalent amongwomen etc were deliberated as part of theclasses led by Ayurvedic experts. Dr. SheelaKaralam (Oushadhi) and Dr. D. Sheela(Thycattusery Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda Col-lege) piloted the programme.

The inaugural function was attended byDr. Pathummal Beevi, AssociateDirector of Research; Dr. C. T. Abraham,Associate Dean, CoH; Dr. Mary Regina,member, KAU GC; Dr. K. M. Abdul Rehman,District President, AMAI and Dr. V. Indira Prof& Head, Department of Homescience .

Ayushmathi Mission forWomen’s Welfare

ICAR Peer review Team under thechairmanship of Prof. Gajendra Singhvisited KAU Campuses during the lastweek of July.

The team comprising ofDr. K. M. Shankar (Dean-Fisheries,Karnanaka Veterinery and FisheriesUniversity), Dr. D. M. Hegde (Ex-Project Director, DOR, Hyderabad),Dr. O. P. Toky (Ex-Dean andControlling Officer, CCSHAU, Hisar)and Prof. S. S. Honnappagol ( ADG,ICAR) was received at KAU HQ on 29July by the Vice-Chancellor. The teaminteracted with officers of the

Dr. N. P KumariSushama awards forBest Student, BestTeacher and BestDepartment in CoA,Vellayani weredistributed on 20July. Karshikolsavam

Prof. Gajendra Singh, Chairman, PRTbeing received by Vice Chancellor

ICAR Peer Review Team Visits KAU

University and members of Academic coun-cil as well as General Council.

The team paid visits to College ofAgriculture, Padannakkad; Kelappaji Collegeof Agricultural Engineering & Technology,Tavanur; College of Agriculture, Vellayani;College of Forestry, College of Horticultureand College of Cooperation, Banking &Management, Academy for Climate ChangeEducation and Research and Central Libraryat Vellanikkara. They also visited various labsand hostels and had a one to one withstudent representatives.

On August 1, PRT reassembled at KAUHQ and addressed a meeting of KAUOfficers. A group of officers headed byDr. E. V. Nybe, Director ( Acad) coordinatedthe visit.

ICAR Peer review Team addressing KAU Officers atVellanikkara

Dr. N. P Kumari SushamaAwards Distributed

award for Best student in KAU was alsopresented on the occasion.

Dean ( Agriculture), Dr. Sverup Johndistributed the awards in a function chairedby Dr. Arthur Jacob, Associate Directorof Research and Member KAU GC. WhileM. S Beena, Dr.K.Umamaheswaran andDr. V. L. Geethakumari received the awardsfor Best Student, Best Teacher and BestDepartment in CoA, Jinu Joy received theKarshikolsavam award. Anupama James, analumnus of CoA was felicitated for hersuccess in Civil Services exam and fourstudents- Sobha, Jyothsna, Vineeth andDeepa were felicitated for their co-curricular performance

KAU GC member Dr. A. Anilkumar,Dr. M. S. Sheela, Dr. E. Komalamma,Dr. K. HarikrishnanaNair, Dr. Gokulapalanand Dr. V. G. Jayalakshmi spoke.

July 2013 K A U N E W S Page 5

Mattoli-13, the Village Stay Programme jointly organizedby RAWE students of College of Agriculture, Vellayani

and Kadakkarappally Grama Panchayath in Alappuzhadistrict was inaugurated by Sri. K C. Joseph, Minister for

Rural Development. The nine days programmeconducted from May 20 included PRA for local area

planning and development, agri-clinics, vegetablecultivation in polybags, training in high-tech agriculture,

training programmes for youth and women, agri-seminars, agri-exhibition, agri-competitions, soil testing

and submission of a Development Plan forKadakkarapally Grama Panchayath. Minister for Welfare

of Scheduled Tribes & Youth Affairs Jayalakshmi, andMinister for Fisheries K. Babu also participated in theprogramme. The valedictory session was inaugurated

by Dr. P. Rajendran, Vice Chancellor in the presence of Dr. T. R. Gopalakrishnan, Director of Research and

Dr. Sverup John, Dean (Agriculture).

Remya J. S. andHima V. M, PhDscholars in PlantPathology, Collegeof Horticulture,Vellanikkara, havebeen selected for

Kerala farmers who wonPlant Genome Saviour nationalaward were honoured by KAUat a function organized atThrissur KVK on June 22.

The representatives ofAkampadam-Chimpanchalapadasekhara samithy whichwon the plant genome saviourcommunity award, Sibykallingal and N. Vasavan whowon the individual awards and

Dr. P. Rajendran, Vice-chancellorinaugurated a two day state levelworkshop on Hi Tech agricultureorganized by KAU’s CommunicationCentre at Mannuthy on 28 and 29June. Dr. Rajendran said that thepromotion of hi tech agriculture ispertinent in the light of severe setbacks suffered by traditionalfarming in unprecedented climaticextremes. Vice–Chancellor alsoreleased a book on hi Tech farming.

Dr. P. V. Balachandran, Directorof Extension, in his presidentialaddress, highlighted the need tocomplement higher production ofvegetables and fruits with storing,

Sreehar i R andParvathy Veugopal,post-graduate studentsin the of Departmentof Wildlife Sciences,College of Forestrywere selected toparticipate and present

CoF Students partake inCambridge Conference

posters in the International Conference onStudent Conference on Conservation Science at theDepartment of Zoology, University of Cambridge,UK during 19-21 March 2013. Mr. Sreehari’spresentation was titled, Time Activity Pattern of Civetsin Southern WesternGhats, India, while Ms.Parvathy Venugopal madethe poster presentationtitled Can DNA Barcodingunravel the taxonomic am-biguity in insectivorous bats?.

Fellowships for CoH students

prestigious fellowships under Innovation in ScientificPersuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE)- 2013, of DST,Govt. of India and Back to Lab programme of WomenScientists Cell instituted by KSCSTE

Remya secured the KAU first rank in the postgraduate programme in Plant Pathology. INSPIREfellowship is instituted to encourage PG First Rankholders in basic and applied sciences includingAgriculture to pursue Doctoral degree. The Back to Labprogramme is implemented for the purpose ofgiving assistance to qualified women researchers in Keralaor pursuing research in frontier areas of Science andTechnology

PlPlPlPlPlant Gant Gant Gant Gant Genome Saenome Saenome Saenome Saenome Saviour aviour aviour aviour aviour awwwwwararararardddddwinners honouredwinners honouredwinners honouredwinners honouredwinners honoured

Sajeevan who got special recognition for promoting native leafy vegetableswere honoured.

P. C. Chacko MP inaugurated the function which was chaired byM. P. Vincent MLA. KAU Vice-Chancellor Dr. P. Rajendran; Director ofExtension Dr. P. V. Balachandran ; ICAR South Zone Project Director Dr. S.Prabhukumar; KVK Head Dr. Ranjan S Karippai and Dr. P. Prameela spoke. Theaward winners thanked KVK for arranging such a function and morespecifically the KAU scientists who helped them reach this level.

Dr. C. R. Elsy was the moderator for interaction between award winnersand selected farmers and Joy Mannur, Thrissur Press Club president was themoderator for media interaction arranged in connection with the function.

The new Office cum Lab buildingand sales Counter at ARS, Thiruvallawas inaugurated on May 23. AntoAntony MP inaugurated the Officebuilding while the sales counter wasinaugurated by Prof. Varghese George,Chairman, Plantation Corporation.

Dr. P. Rajendran, KAU Vice-Chancellor delivered the Key noteaddress in the function presided overby Saji Chacko, President, DistrictPanchayat. I.K.Raveendraraj, KAUGC member ; Eapen Kurien,President, Pulikkezh Block Panchayat;T.Prasannakumari, President,Nedumpram Gramapanchayat;

P. C. Chacko MP inaugurates the function by honouringthe farmers

New Facilities opened at Thiruvalla ARS

K .C .Thomas , P re s i d en t ,Ku t t u rGramapanchayat and Babu KallunkalMember, Gramapanchayat spoke.Dr. T. R. Gopalakrishnana, Director ofResearch welcomed the gathering andDr. A. V. Mathew, Associate Directorproposed vote of thanks.

Vice-Chancellor inaugurates the Workshopon Hi Tech Farming

Workshop on Hi Tech Farming

processing and marketing strategies.Dr. A. M. Ranjth, Professor & head,

Communication Centre, Dr. J imThomas, Associate Director ofResearch and Dr. P. Suseela spoke.

Rural Development MinisterInaugurates Village Stay Programme

Printed and Published by Dr.P.V. Balachandran, Director of Extension, Kerala Agricultural University.Editor: B. Ajitkumar, Public Relations Officer, KAU. Printed at KAU Press, Mannuthy

Page 6 K A U N E W S July 2013

The massive afforestation programme initiated by KAU on World Environment Day was inau-

A model spice nursery and seedprocessing lab at Vellanikkara wasinaugurated by Dr. P. Rajendran, Vice-chancellor on 14 June. The facilities fundedby NHM through Directorate of Arecanutand Spices Development is aimed athelping spice farmers with quality plantingmaterials.

Dr. Homey Cherian, Director, DASD;Dr. E. V. Nybe, Director( Academic) andDr. Mini Raj, Professor, Dept of PlantationCrops & spices spoke. Registrar Dr. E. K.Mathew; Comptroller Dr. Joy Mathew;University Officers, Staff and students par-ticipated.

Model Spice NurseryInaugurated

KAU Vice-Chancellor Dr. P. Rajendran inaugu-rates seed processing lab attached to modelSpice nursery at Vellanikkara

AICRP on Honey bees Research and Training Centreat College of Agriculture, Vellayani has been recognisedas Best Research Centre for 2011-13 in the BiennialWorkshop of All India Co-ordinated Research Project

Honey bee Research: Vellayani Centre bags award

Dr.Devanesan and Team receiving the bestcentre award

consisting of Dr. K. S. Prameela, Dr. V. S. Amrutha andK. K. Shailaja received the award.

The centre has standardized technologies for honeybee health management, quality honey production,honey processing, marketing, value addition of honeyand different hive products. It has pioneeredtechniques for commercial Meliponiculture viz., hiving feral colonies, managing stingless bees inhives, division of colonies and management duringdifferent phases. ICAR has recognised Vellayani as thenational nodal centre for stingless bee research .

on Honey beesand Pollinatorsheld at GB PantUniversity ofAgriculture andTechno lo g y, P a n t n a g a r , Uttarakhand from June 17-18,2013. Dr. S.D e v a n e s a n ,Principal scien-tist and his team

Lecture on AgriculturalPolicies & environment

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theme-Think, eat and Save. He stressed the importance of growing right kind of trees in the rightenvironment. He elaborated the arrangements made by the University to make all campuses green.

Later the dignitaries kicked off the programme by planting Mahagony saplings along theperiphery of KAU central stadium. Members of KAU GC, Registrar Dr. E. K. Mathew, ComptrollerDr. Joy Mathew, Director of Research Dr. T. R.Gopalakrishnan, Forestry Dean Dr. K. Sudhakara,Horticulture College Assoc. Dean Dr. C. T. Abraham, CCBM Assoc. Dean Dr. A. Sukaumaranand other officers of the University, Teachers, Staff, Students and labourers enthusiastically in-volved in the afforestation drive. The activities were coordinated by College of Forestry.

gurated by Dr. P. V. Krishnan Nair, Secretary, Kerala SangeethaNataka Academy. Dr Krishnan Nair in his address pointed outthat world’s greatest authors were inspired by nature and had apenchant to flora and fauna of the Universe.

‘Man cannot live without nature and as the mostadvanced living being it is the duty of mankind to nurturethe nature. Sustenance of an eco-friendly environment isindispensable for a peaceful and healthy life and unless welove our environment we will not get a affordable climate ‘he said.

Dr. P. Rajendran, KAU Vice-Chancellor in his presidentialaddress high lighted the relevance of the environment day

Dr. P.V. Krishnan Nair inaugurates KAUafforestation drive

Dr. P. Rajendran, Vice-Chancellorplanting a Sapling

Devinder Sharma, noted policyanalyst and agricultural journalist,

delivered a lecture on Agricultural Policies and the state of

environment at KAU’s College ofHorticulture (CoH) on 29 June.

Sharmacalledfor a

restruc-turing ofagricul-

turalpolicies

and

restructuring of research agendato protect India’s agricultural

economy and ensure sustainableincome for farming community.

Direct payment of assuredremuneration to farmers is a

must to sustain farming, he said.

The lecture was organizedby the Centre of Excellence in

Environmental Economics ( CEEE)under CoH. DR. C. T. Abraham,Associate Dean, CoH; Dr. Jessy

Thomas, Head, Department ofAgricultural Economics;

Dr. P. Indiradevi, Director, CEEEand Dr. A. Prema spoke.