With an intention to provide training to students in the latest agricultural practices, the Salesian society has started the Don Bosco Agriculture Education Complex, Goa's first full-fledged agricultural college, in Sulcorna, Quepem from 16 Aug.

The college will offer a BSc degree in agriculture to 40 students who have scored 50% and above in Class XII with physics, chemistry and biology and to vocational horticulture students. The course curriculum has been based on the national syllabus of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and has been approved by Goa University. The college has kept a 50% reservation for Goans.

The college has signed a memorandum of understanding with ICAR-Central Coastal Agriculture Research Institute, Ela, for the sharing of teaching faculty and facilities.

"The long-term plan of the agricultural college includes offering Masters and Ph D programmes as well as innovative short-term and long-term training courses. Another vision is to lend agricultural equipment at subsidized rates in collaboration with various government departments to poor local farmers and promote co-operatives and farmers clubs," provincial of the Panaji Province Fr Ian Figueredo said.

"Students will get to work hands-on using the latest agricultural machinery on crops like sugarcane, banana, coconut, oil palm, and cashew that are cultivated on the campus. The college also has separate hostels for girls and boys, sports facilities, and workshops and agricultural machinery," said principal of Don Bosco Higher Secondary School Fr Savio Gomes.

Source: http://www.goacom.com/