JOIN USICAR plans student ready concept in farm courses
Indian Council of Agriculture Research is mooting ‘student ready’ concept in all the 11 branches of degree courses which come under agriculture science in the 12th five year plan, said Department of Agriculture Research and Education Secretary and the Director General of Indian Council of Agriculture Research Dr S Ayyappan on Friday.
Speaking after inaugurating laboratory-cum office building of Mangalore Research centre of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) at Hoige Bazar in Mangalore on Friday, he said the students should have skill, knowledge, innovation attitude and confidence to achieve success.
According to the porposal, the students who are pursuing their studies in various branches of agriculture will have to undergo rural awareness work experience to get hands on experience on the marketing skills, and other skills in one of the semester, to become an entrepreneur after completing the course.
He said the World Bank team will be visiting India next week to understand the mechanism of precision fishing. A national-level consultation will be held on May 14 to discuss on the fisheries education. Many fisheries colleges in North India are handicapped in marine fishing while teaching the students. There is a need to address the situation immediately.
All the measure will be taken to set up marine hatchery centre in the building of Mangalore Research centre of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute at Hoige Bazar. The building is dedicated to the fishermen of Dakshina Kannada district.
“The fish catch in Karnataka is 3.6 lakh tonne annually, which accounts to 10 per cent of the fish capture in the country. There are not more than 20,000 agriculture scientists in the country. The year 2010-11 was the best in Indian agriculture wherein the country had crossed 245 million tonnes of food grain production.
In 2011-12, the country is estimating 250 million tonnes of food grain production. However, disasters, drought, extreme weather conditions are making us worry over the food production,” he said.
Dr Ayyappan said the fisheries sector will be strengthened in the 12th five year plan. The plan will try to make agriculture as exciting, and profitable venture as possible.
12th five year plan
ICAR Deputy Director General Dr B Meenakumari said the fishing sector is strong in Mangalore and several allied activities have come up in the district.
The 12th five year plan will give emphasis on aquaculture which is catching up in the recent years. The plan will also lay emphasis on fish health management, reservoir fishing and post harvest loss.
Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University Vice-Chancellor Dr S Honnappagol said the CMFRI requires land for setting up marine hatchery centre in the CMFRI premises. The University will look into the proposal of handing over its land to the CMFRI to create facilities.
“The University took a bold decision when it decided to hand over 50 cents land in the College of Fisheries premises to set up CMFRI. The University has already signed MoU with CMFRI to utilise its scientists as teachers to teach students of MFSc and guide research activities in College of Fisheries. The library of the CMFRI and the College of Fisheries can be used by both the institutes,” he said
He said the Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Yadgiri needs to be brought under the jurisdiction of Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University for better management and to take up research activities. College of Fisheries former dean Dr H P C Shetty, College of Fisheries Dean Dr K M Shankar, CMFRI, Kochi Director Dr G Syda Rao, Mangalore Research Centre of CMFRI Scientist-in-Charge Dr A P Dinesh Babu were present.