A group of scientists from the University of Jafna visited Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) on Saturday to get familiarised with advanced production and processing farm technologies and explore the possibilities of a tie-up.
The group led by Dr. K. Suriya Kumar, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, and Dr. Sivamathi Sivachandran, Dean, Faculty of Technology, held discussions with Vice-Chancellor Dr. R. Chandra Babu and Director of Extension Dr. Jiju P. Alex.
Dr. Chandra Babu offered all assistance to Jafna University and favoured the academic tie-up proposal.
Same as Kerala
“The agro climatic conditions in Jafna being similar to that of Kerala, the scope of application of the KAU technologies there is very high. Scientists and farmers from Sri Lanka can also undergo trainings in specific agro techniques in addition to the scholars pursuing higher studies here. The KAU will be happy to facilitate such endeavours,” he said.
Dr. Jiju P. Alex said KAU was willing to develop appropriate training modules for agricultural students, scientists and farmers from Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan scientists expressed keen interest in getting opportunities for higher studies, trainings and research opportunities. Jafna, a province severely affected by war calamities, was limping back to development, said the scientists.
“Agricultural development, being a fundamental area of well-being of the population, we are trying our best to rope in appropriate technologies, and the visit to KAU is a major step towards this. Apart from agriculture, we are also interested in Forestry. We wish to use the international funding for acquiring knowledge,” they said.