Bangalore:

In recognition of the yeoman service to research and development by the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad – among the nation’s premier agriculture universities – was rewarded with a special `50-crore grant this budget.

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee made the announcement in the Lok Sabha on Friday while presenting the 2012-13 budget. UAS Dharwad had won accolades few years ago when its scientists developed hybrid colour cotton varieties, in addition to their research on vegetable and cash crops.

Varsity Vice-Chancellor R R Hanchinal told Express that the special grant was a vindication of the university’s accomplishments in recent years. “He said that the grant will be utilised to set up a farmers’ knowledge centre and create infrastructure at the Krishi Mela site in the University.” The university has four colleges, 25 research stations, six extension education units, five Krishi Vigyan Kendras with and has its jurisdiction over 7 districts of northern Karnataka including Bagalkot, Bijapur, Dharwad, Belgaum, Gadag and Uttara Kannada. “The university which was established in 1986 has developed numerous varieties of high-yielding variants of cotton and other food crops,” he added. The university has also to its credit of being the first varsity to start a Krishi Community Radio Station on agriculture. The Krishi Mela, the annual agri-exhibition of the university, attracts lakhs of farmers.

source: http://www.ibnlive.in.com / South> Bangalore / The New Indian Express and Express News Service / March 17thy, 2012