Dedication of new technology to compost household waste in a safe and hygienic manner, new amphitheatre, biotech second block, and a pesticide-residue testing laboratory forms part of diamond jubilee celebrations of College of Agriculture, Vellayani, in Thiruvananthapuram, which is set to commence on Wednesday.
The dedication of the new technology- Suchitha- developed by the university in association with Innovation Experience will be yet another contribution of the university when it embarks on a year-long celebration to mark its diamond jubilee.
The technology involves conversion of household waste into manure in a short-period. The waste, dumped into automatic machine, first undergoes a grinding process and then gets boiled at high degree temperature after adding two chemicals. The waste will be converted into manure within a day.
C.R. Sudharmaidevi, professor, soil science, College of Agriculture, said name of chemicals would be disclosed later, as it is under patent process. The dedication of the technology will be one of highlights of diamond jubilee celebrations.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy would inaugurate the events in the presence of Minister for Agriculture K.P. Mohanan.
In a release, V.B. Padmanabhan, professor, Kerala Agriculture University, said the Chief Minister would lay the foundation for alumni gate, auditorium, heritage museum and biopark, swimming pool and honey bee laboratory. In the coming months, the university has lined up an array of events such as scientific seminars, honey fest, papaya fest, sporting events and quiz competitions.
The college began in 1955. It came into existence as Agriculture College and Research Institute functioning from Lilind Palace, a contribution of erstwhile royal family of Travancore for agriculture research.
The college offered undergraduate programmes leading to B.Sc (Agriculture). Postgraduate programmes, leading to M.Sc. (Ag.) and Ph.D. degrees were started in 1962 and 1965 respectively.
With the enactment of the Kerala Agricultural University Act by the State Legislature in 1971, the institution was made as a constituent college of the Kerala Agricultural University in February, 1972, and was renamed as the College of Agriculture.
Mr Padmanabhan said since its inception the college had contributed immensely to the growth of agriculture sector in the State.
