The Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has established a new centre for high-tech horticulture and precision farming at Vellanikkara. The centre is set up using a grant from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Attached to the Agricultural Research Station at Mannuthy, the centre is established in an area of about five acres. A new office building, training hall and poly houses for soil and soilless cultivation and large-scale production of vegetable transplants and grafted seedlings have been set up in an acre. The remaining land will be utilised for open field precision farming.
The Centre of Excellence in Protected Cultivation and Precision Farming sanctioned by the State government will now function at this new centre. The centre is expected to bring out drip fertigation packages for open field precision farming in horticultural crops, technologies for soil and soilless cultivation in poly houses and large-scale production of vegetable transplants and grafted seedlings.
The centre has already started large-scale production of vegetable transplants. The first batch of seedlings worth Rs.2.75 lakh is ready for distribution to various Krishibhavans. Around two lakh vegetable seedlings of amranthus, snake gourd, cucumber, ashgourd , chilli, tomato and brinjal are ready for distribution to farmers.
The seedling production unit has an installed capacity to produce 15 lakh seedlings a year, said P. Rajendran, Vice Chancellor, Kerala Agricultural University.
Besides farmers, Krishi Bhavans, grama panchayats and other grassroots organisations interested in vegetable farming can book seedlings in advance, he said.
U. Jaikumaran, Professor & Head, ARS, Mannuthy, said the centre has facilities for long-distance transportation of seedlings.
Source: www.thehindu.com