About the Department
The Department of Agronomy, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Killikulam was started in the year 1985 under the administrative head of the Dean, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Killikulam. At present, this department has 4 teaching staff members in Agronomy, 2 in Crop Physiology, 1 in Veterinary and Animal Science and 1 in Bio-energy. This department conducts courses for B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture and M.Sc. (Ag.) in Agronomy degree programme. At present, there are 6 post graduate students in this Department. Apart from education and research, the department of Agronomy is involved in extension activities by offering trainings and demonstrations to farmers through various schemes.
The department of Agronomy is looking after the farm management of wetland at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Killikulam. This farm serves as a platform for conduct field trials in paddy, pulses and other cereal crops depending upon the students’ need. Major area in this farm is allotted for paddy seed production. The farm is provided with the many machineries and equipments such as drum seeder, cono weeder, combined harvestor, multicrop thresher, seed drill, paddy straw roller, rice transplanter, power weeder, etc.
An IFS component consisting of cattle, poultry and aquaculture along with crops is being maintained at this farm. Sheds constructed for various species of livestock under funding from NADP are housed with cattle, sheep, goat and poultry. These units are being maintained for demonstration purpose under the project Diversified Agricultural Cafeteria with the state of Art Technologies for third generation.
The department of Agronomy is also looking after the sanitary section of the college which takes care of the overall sanitation and upkeep of the campus.
The department also assists in maintaining the security personnel engaged for the entire college campus.
Mission of the Department
- To impart quality education in Agronomy for UG and PG students
- To create better environment to the student for livelihood education
- To cater the needs of the farming community of the Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari and Tenkasi districts.
- To Undertake research on need based location specific problems and developing technologies for crop management for sustainable productivity of crops.
- To impart training and transfer of technology for effective adoption.