Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has called for integrating traditional methods of farming with modern agricultural science to revive the State’s agricultural sector.
Speaking after inaugurating the new UG academic block and the Advanced Research Centre for Plant Disease Diagnosis at the College of Agriculture here, he stressed the need to make agriculture research relevant for farmers.
“Though the Kerala Agricultural University has made significant strides in research, there is a delay in making research findings accessible for farmers. It requires a coordinated approach by scientists and farmers to find solutions to the crisis facing the agricultural sector in Kerala,” he said.
Agriculture Minister V.S. Sunil Kumar who presided over the function stressed the need for better coordination between the Agriculture Department and the Kerala Agricultural University.
The Chief Minister presented the Dr.N. P. Kumari Sushama memorial award to Aruna S. for the best performance in the B.Sc. agriculture course.
Dr.Salini Pillai received the award for the best teacher and Dr. Sheela K.R, Head, Department of Agronomy was presented the award for the best department in the college. Another student, Athira M. Nair won the award for the best agricultural extension activity while Akshaja Suresh received the Prof. P.A. Rajan Asary endowment award.
