Thrissur: Kerala Agricultural University General Council has approved the budget for 2017-18 in its annual meeting held at Vellaanikkara. The budget was presented by K.Rajan MLA. The meeting was chaired by Agricultural Minister and KAU pro-chancellor V.S. Sunilkumar. The budget envisages establishment of new agricultural colleges at Ambalavayal (Wayanad) and Kumarakom, (Kottayam), agri polytechnics, Centre for Plant Genetic Resour-ces to conserve germplasms of all native crop varieties, pesticide residue analytical lab at Padannakaad (Kasargod) and Vellanikkara (Thrissur), upgradation of radio tracer lab at Vellanikkara to central analytical lab and a permanent exhibition unit at Mannuthy.
Climate resilient research programme and KAU brand of value added products, research support for vegetable farming in Vattavada-Kanthallur belt, consultancy support for Haritha Keralam project implemented by Local Self Government Institutions (LSGIS) and initiatives for green campuses are other important proposals. Rs 100 lakh has been earmarked for modernisation of classrooms, Rs 78 lakhs for upgradation of library facilities and Rs 15 lakhs for entrepreneurship online courses. Release of new crop varieties including drought tolerant rice variety, water conservation model units in university farms, a centrally-sponsored solar park at the main campus and thrust on solar power for farm operations, an international exhibition on developments, modern trends and technologies in agriculture, Farmers science congress to integrate traditional farming wisdom and modern knowledge etc. are some other programmes in the budget proposals.
The budget has an outlay of Rs 579.57 crore and total receipt of Rs 564.43 crore with a deficit of Rs 15.14 crore. The receipt and expenses are pegged at Rs 75 crore and Rs 69.3 crores respectively while non-plan expenses is estimated at Rs 415.7 crore as against the receipt of Rs 369.20 crore. While the total receipts from external aided projects, internal revenue and income from revolving funds amounts to Rs 120.23 crore, the expenditure under these comes to Rs 94.57 crore. The budget speech also reveals that the university’s financial liability, accumulated due to shortfall in state funding, stands at Rs 145.18 crores.
