50 years and still ploughs on

Agricultural College and Research Institute plans big golden jubilee celebrations

December 29, 2014 09:56 am | Updated November 16, 2021 04:55 pm IST - MADURAI:

Till, Toil, Triumph — these three words on the welcome arch surrounded by lush green fields and a breeze of fresh air provide refreshing entry into the sprawling 350-acre campus of Agricultural College and Research Institute (ACRI) near Othakadai.

The gates open to a green expanse on the campus. Its contributions in the field of agricultural science and research are recalled now as the institution gears up for celebrating its golden jubilee in 2015.

Inaugurated on August 19, 1965, by the then Chief Minister M. Bakthavatsalam in the presence of Home Minister P. Kakkan, the ACRI has grown into a premier institute in Tamil Nadu.

What was sown 50 years ago has grown in size and stature, making its parent body, the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), proud. “Ours was the second agricultural college to be established in the State and the second biggest campus after the one in Coimbatore. The accomplishments in the last five decades in agricultural research and transfer of technology to farmers through Krishi Vigyan Kendra make us feel proud,” says C. Chinnusamy, Dean.

From the days of A. Mariakulandai, the first Dean from 1965 to 1968, the college has gradually widened its reach in agriculture, horticulture and extension activities. Today, it has 800 students, pursing various courses with specialisation in agronomy, plant breeding and genetics, agriculture entomology and so on.

C. Vanniarajan, Professor and Head, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, says that the ACRI has been proactive in releasing new varieties of rice, black gram, brinjal and minor millets. “Our aim is to see that farmers get high-yield with short gestation,” he emphasises.

What makes Dr. Chinnusamy feel happy is that it has distinguished alumni placed across a wide spectrum, with some of them becoming successful award-winning agri entrepreneurs.

“The golden jubilee celebration is a landmark moment for us. Mini marathon, regional agriculture mela and inter-collegiate basketball tournament for 22 constituent colleges of TNAU will be conducted in January. The success of our college in the last 50 years will be showcased,” he says.

Good demand

Getting admission in ACRI, Madurai, is considered an achievement. “There is good demand for our college and 68 per cent of B.Sc. (Agriculture) students are girls. For a seat in Madurai campus, which has 140 seats, the cut-off mark is 192 and above,” the Dean says.

V. Swaminathan, Professor and Head, Department of Horticulture, says that farmers throng the campus to get seeds of various horticulture crops. Very soon, the college will release a new variety of cluster beans, which will give 22 per cent more yield in 90 days.

A significant contribution by ACRI to farmers’ growth in Madurai region is lending its expertise in water regulation and management in Periyar-Vaigai command area for crops such as rice, sugarcane, cotton, pulses and oilseeds. For paddy and vegetable cultivation, its scientists have developed plant protection technology, besides extensive work in plant pathology.

On the anvil

To commemorate the golden jubilee, the ACRI plans to create permanent landmarks on the campus. They include a state-of-the-art laboratory for food quality control in collaboration with Central Food Technological Research Institute; student amenities centre at a cost of Rs.2.5 crore; girls hostel at a cost of Rs.2 crore; and a golden jubilee arch.

Special faculty teams, including rice breeder N. Aananthi and P. P. Murugan, Professor and Head, Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, are carrying out linkage programmes to promote more direct interaction between ACRI and farmers.

The institution is also involving students in a big way for the celebrations through student clubs. Twenty per cent of its students are from other States coming under Indian Council of Agricultural Research quota.

“Agriculture is a more harmonious course since it goes with the nature. Our goal is to meet the farmers’ needs in mechanisation, drought management and productivity. I request the parents to allow their children to study agriculture because B.Sc. (Agri) students are in great demand,” Dr. Chinnusamy says.

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