Latest news with #KVASU
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
CM stresses need for one health approach
Thrissur: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday said zoonotic diseases , which transmit from animals and birds to humans, are posing a major challenge to the advances made by Kerala in the health sector, and emphasised the need for extensive adoption of 'one health approach' to contain this threat. Inaugurating the new hi-tech laboratory at the College of Veterinary Animal Sciences, the CM said the govt has allocated Rs 33cr for setting up a centre of excellence in one health at Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), Pookode in Wayanad. "Kerala has achieved globally acclaimed gains in several health parameters. But of late we are facing some worries in these areas. Rise in infectious diseases is one of the major causes of these worries, and it is important to note that a lion's share of the infectious diseases are zoonotic in origin. In order to tide over this we have adopted the 'one health policy' which treats the environment and all living beings, including humans, as a continuum or a single unit," the CM said. "Our objective is to create a healthy society, and for this it is not sufficient to ensure the health of humans alone. We need to take a proactive approach to ensure the health of the whole environment, including the entire living beings," he said, adding that the advanced referral-analytical-diagnostic laboratory inaugurated at the college will be a critical infrastructure to realise these objectives. The laboratory set up at a cost of Rs 32cr is expected to make vital contributions in research and training in multiple areas, like healthcare, disease prevention and food security," Vijayan said. Later inaugurating the 'Water Efficient Thrissur' project of the Thrissur corporation, the CM said the govt will ensure drinking water supply to all in the state soon. He claimed that the govt could provide safe drinking water to 55% of the rural families in Kerala and the per capita water availability in the state has shot up to 100 litres. While receiving the guard of honour at the passing out parade of the 144 women police constable recruits at the Kerala Police Academy, the CM said the govt has been taking continuous steps to induct more women in police.
The Hindu
16-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
One Health policy crucial in combating infectious, zoonotic diseases: CM
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stressed the vital role of the One Health policy which views humans, animals and the environment as interconnected in tackling emerging threats from infectious and zoonotic diseases in Kerala. He was speaking after inaugurating the newly built Referral Analytical Diagnostic Laboratory at the Mannuthy Veterinary College on Monday. The Chief Minister also inaugurated a new women's hostel and an auditorium at the Verghese Kurien Institute of Dairy and Food Technology under the the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU). Major step forward Highlighting Kerala's remarkable achievements in public health, the Chief Minister noted that the modern diagnostic laboratory would play a key role in advancing research and testing in health care, disease prevention, and food safety. The lab, he said, marked a major step forward in the university's academic and infrastructure development. The government had allocated ₹33 crore for setting up a Centre for Excellence in One Health at the KVASU, the CM said. He also mentioned ongoing projects under the Wayanad package, including a veterinary diagnostic centre and other support facilities. Job-oriented education Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Minister J. Chinchurani, who presided over the event, stated that universities played a crucial role in building a knowledge-driven society. She emphasised the importance of employment-oriented education and reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring land availability for campus development. Revenue Minister K. Rajan, delivering the keynote address, announced a ₹16-crore Translational Research Centre to be established on the Mannuthy campus, further strengthening KVASU's innovation potential.
The Hindu
05-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
People's convention demands conservation of KAU's model jackfruit farm
A people's protest is gathering momentum against the move to cut down and transfer control of the model organic jackfruit farm of the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) in Mannuthy to the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), which reportedly plans to convert the land into a fodder cultivation area. This Model Organic Farm (MOF) is unique for conserving over 193 indigenous varieties of jackfruit trees, many over 50 years old. A 'jackfruit paradise,' the farm is spread across 70 acres in the Agriculture Research Station (ARS) under the KAU. It also houses over 100 varieties of mango trees, 200 diverse native tree species, other fruit trees, vegetable plots, and research crops—all cultivated without chemical fertilizers or pesticides since the era of Shaktan Thampuran in 1917. On World Environment Day, a Farm Protection Convention was organised at Mahatma Square, Mannuthy, under the leadership of the Chakkakuttam Farm Protection Committee and local environmental activists. Over 150 people, including environmentalists, local workers, and concerned citizens from various districts, participated in a public rally and symbolic protest. Participants tied ribbons to each jackfruit tree, embraced them, and formed a human chain of protection, followed by an environmental pledge to preserve the farm. Ecological consequence The speakers emphasised the grave ecological, agricultural, and food security consequences of destroying this living gene bank. The MOF plays a critical role in supplying quality, diverse jackfruit saplings to farmers and is an active centre for biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and value-added agricultural research organisation. Despite KVASU and the government possessing alternative lands for fodder cultivation, this particular intervention threatens to dismantle one of the largest jackfruit biodiversity collections in the world, they alleged. The convention called for an urgent and permanent resolution to this ongoing dispute, which has persisted for years, and urged the government to issue a favourable decision. They also demanded that the employment concerns of the workers currently engaged at the model farm be addressed fairly.
