Three more Agri colleges to come up in state

Gadag, Haveri and Belgaum are set to have their agricultural colleges soon. The University of Agricultural Sciences (Dharwad) has sent a proposal to the authorities concerned To this effect. The University has already enhanced intake by 240 and 50 in for UG and PG degree programmes, respectively from this academic year. New PG programmes in agronomy, genetics and plant breeding, agricultural entomology and plant pathology have also been started at Bijapur Campus this year.

UAS V-C R R Hanchinal said, plans are afoot to start three-year diploma courses in agriculture. The University has started one year short term diploma courses in seed production, organic farming, fashion and apparel designing, and a three-month certificate course in dairying. He said these courses are highly skill-oriented.

 

The varsity has attracted students from abroad and 13 students from Ethiopia, Sudan, Nigeria, Nepal, Afghanistan and Syria have enrolled for PG programmes.

After bifurcation, the jurisdiction of the UAS, Dharwad covers 28 per cent of the geographic area, 27 per cent of the cultivated area and 14 per cent of the irrigated area of the state in seven districts of Northern Karnataka. The research activities are being carried out at the main agricultural research station (ARS), one regional ARS in different zones comprising northern dry zone, northern transition zone, hilly and coastal zones under the jurisdiction of UAS.

The scientists in the UAS have developed several technologies and released for adoption by the farming community. They include high yielding, non-lodging Foxtail millet-HMT-100-1; high oil containing, necrosis-tolerant sunflower hybrid-RSFH-130; high-yielding bold and white seeded Sesame variety DSS-9; 3 way cross, downy mildew and rust resistant Maize hybrid-EH-434042; blast resistant and drought-tolerant finger millet variety, DHRS-1; high yielding, submergence tolerant, blast resistant, good for puffing paddy variety IET-9926; and in vegetables, high yielding, moderately resistant to late blight potato variety Kufri Surya and in spice Humnabad local variety with high essential oil and low fibre content ginger variety have been identified. Other important technologies developed include UAS-304 Bread Wheat variety and SIRI-1253 Paddy variety.

The vice-chancellor said that top priority has been given to seed production and technology transfer through the supply of quality seeds to farmers. UAS, Dharwad, during 2009-10 produced 8,375 quintals of breeder seed, 1,940 quintals of foundation seeds, 23,872 quintals of certified / TL seed under Seed Village Concept.

In all, the university produced 34,187 quintals of seeds. Under horticulture component, during 2009-10, 3.04 million planting materials and more than 50,000 tissue culture seedlings of plantain have been supplied.

Modernisation of research and instructional farms has been taken up in selected ARS with ICAR’s financial support. A new ARS on a 12.4 acre land has been established at Malagi in Uttar Kannada district. Seed Production Centre, Indi has been taken over and seed production activities have started. “Efforts are on for transferring seed production centres at Hombal (Gadag district) and Hukkeri (Belgaum district) from agriculture department to UAS,” the V-C said.