കോളേജിന് ചുറ്റുമുള്ള സമൂഹത്തെ കാർഷിക വൃത്തിയുടെ പ്രാധാന്യത്തെക്കുറിച്ചു കൂടുതൽ അറിവ് നല്കാനുവും കാർഷിക മേഖലയിൽ വയനാടിന്റെ നഷ്ടമായ സമൃദ്ധി വീണ്ടെടുക്കേണ്ടതിന്റെ ആവശ്യകതയെക്കുറിച്ചും പ്രാധാന്യത്തെക്കുറിച്ചും സമൂഹത്തിൽ അവബോധം സൃഷ്ടിക്കുന്നനും പ്രോത്സാഹിപ്പിക്കുന്നതിനും ഒക്കെയായാണ് ഈ ബഹുമുഖ പരിപാടി രൂപകൽപ്പന ചെയ്തിരിക്കുന്നത്. താഴെപ്പറയുന്നവയാണ് നിർദ്ദിഷ്ട ലക്ഷ്യങ്ങൾ.
A multi-dimensional programme designed to equip the community around the institution to be a model and to create awareness among the society about the need and significance of reclaiming the lost prosperity of Wayanad in the field of Agriculture. Equip the community, particularly the youth in identifying arable and fallow lands in and around the institution to practice agriculture.
With more than 60% of population directly or indirectly depending upon Agriculture as a way of livelihood, India became an agrarian nation. The state of Kerala despite being a consumer state still had a very rich culture in agriculture and allied matters. A high majority (90 %) of people in Wayanad are either farmers or directly or indirectly engaged in agriculture or related activities. Agriculture has neither enabled them for mobility to higher standard of living nor to lead a decent life due to factors like failure of crops, price fall of agricultural products, raw materials costs etc. There is no value addition for the products at farmer level due to the lack of technology and support at the knowledge level. Farmers are burdened with financial liability from banks and other money lenders leading to mass suicides.
Taking this serious issue as a challenge, the institution initiated an integrated multi-dimensional programme which seeks to create interest among the young generation and to impart the basic agricultural knowledge and technical support. The programme also intends to find arable and fallow lands in and around the institution for practicing the art of agriculture through Bio-farming practices. This practice creates a band-wagon of agricultural prosperity and wetland conservation to which the youth is following now.
The primary target group of the programme was the people who had agricultural practices previously. Students under the leadership of faculty , particularly from the vocational studies department, which was started in 2018-19, gave knowledge as well as technical support to all the interested people in the society.
An expert panel consisting of agricultural academicians and renowned agriculture practitioners believed that reclamation of wetlands and anaerobic paddy lands could counter the global climate change problems and thereby creating a sustainable ecosystem. The team identified wetland paddy fallows around the college and as a pilot initiative, an area of one hectare was selected for paddy cultivation encompassing the traditional and indigenous ways of wetland cultivation.
A renowned germplasm conservator Sri. Cheruvayal Raman was invited to orient and motivate the team of young individuals. The expert had a very rich collection of traditional paddy germplasm that are indigenous to the land of Wayanad. He could bring a sense of need within the youth to carryout agriculture and preserve wetland for sustainability. Sooner the team decided to grow a traditional rice variety in the wetlands. All the traditional and indigenous field practices were employed along with necessary modern mechanization. A well maintained wetland system which sustained a healthy wetland ecosystem was made into reality by the team and it could inspire more people. Apart from paddy cultivation, the team of skilled youth cultivated different vegetables in 1.5 acres of land. The unused land within the campus was selected and prepared for cultivation. This brought immense attention of the student community, and the young people in and around the institution which ultimately made the effort successful.
First of all, the college expert council created a team comprising of the youth in and around the campus, school students nearby and the interested people within the immediate surrounding. The institution functioned as a facilitator by providing a platform for theoretical and technical support. The team was motivated by expert talks and also the selected youth were given hands-on experience in the different farming methods, indigenous practices and wetland conservation practices. The interested youth could gain in-depth knowledge about the geographical and edaphic specialties of Wayanad and the various seasons associated with paddy cultivation within the state and district. The unutilized rice fallow was converted into a wetland ecosystem and subsequently the fallow could be changed into an arable wetland. The institution could produce 1.5 tonnes of paddy as yield of the cultivation. The whole yield was sold to the Civil Supplies Corporation, Kerala. The institution shared a space along with the Agriculture Development & Farmers' Welfare Department in bringing the school children to the wetland paddy field which was named by the Kerala Government as ‘Padam Onnu Padathekku’.
The college team cultivated a wide variety of vegetables within the campus with the support given by the Pulpally Krishibhavan in association with a scheme named ‘Jeevani 2019-20’. The team effort converted a fallow land to a highly productive vegetable garden. Nearly 300 kg of vegetables obtained from the cultivation was made available to the Community Kitchen run by the three nearby Panchayats such as Pulpally, Mullankolli and Poothadi free of cost at regular intervals, which fed the poor and isolated people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through this the institution could spread a strong message of humanitarian act which is ultimately the purpose of education.
The team experienced certain problems like timely actions as it was found very difficult to arrange human resource amidst the tight academic schedule.
For every agricultural endeavor to succeed, it requires steady backup of land, labor and capital. The college level expert committee provided assistance in arranging suitable land and other inputs involving the actions of immediate neighborhood community. The institution could overcome the problem of timely availability of human resources by forming small Self-Help Groups (SHG) from the complete team and advised them to act accordingly.
