Icrisat opens agro-ecotourism complex

The International Crops Research Institute of the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat) has launched an agro-ecotourism complex at Manmool in Patancheru campus.

The complex, located at the site where formerly Manmool village stood, houses a castle, temple, mosque, chapel, a golf driving range and a running track.

The location of the complex at Manmool is historic, since it is the original site where Icrisat's research activities began. According to Hindu legends, Manmool is believed to have been a town called 'Mandagola'. Etymologically, folklore has it that 'Manmool' is adapted from the original village name 'mandu-moola', where 'mandu' stands for medicine and 'mool' means roots. Manmool, in this context, could mean the 'roots of healing'.

Icrisat director-general William Dar, who inaugurated the complex on Monday, said in a press statement that the agro-ecotourism complex provides opportunities for staff members of Icrisat to rejuvenate their physical and spiritual health.

"This in turn will help them to be more proactive in improving agricultural productivity and strengthening the livelihoods of the poor and marginal farmers in the semi-arid tropics," he said.