The 500 acres campus is situated at Lakkihalli village, 10 kms on the south west of Tiptur town in Tumkur District. The campus houses the 'Gramodaya' Training cum Research Centre (GTRC). This centre was started in 1980.
Activities of the centre
- generation of critical inputs for field extension projects
- training and demonstration
- problem oriented research activities
- Germ plasm collection and plantation of various tropical tree species
Facilities available
- Well equipped class rooms
- Teaching aids
- Conference hall
- Boarding cum lodging facilities
- Demonstration units on various applied technologies for rural development
Demonstrations in the campus
The demonstrations established in the campus includes the following:
- A Micro-watershed Development Model
This mini-watershed development model is created in 5 acres of land. Various soil and water conservation measures such as intensive tree plantation, contour bunds, earthen dams and farm ponds etc has been taken up here.
- Roof Top Rain Water Harvesting:
Roof Top Rain Water harvesting structures are inbuilt in the campus buildings. On an average 12,80,000 litres of water is harvested every year. Besides ensuring sufficient drinking water for the training centre, this also supplies good quality water to cocoon reeling activities carried out in the sericulture unit in the campus.
- Dairy Demonstration Programme
The herd maintained includes quality local breeds and cross breeds of HF and Jersey. Fodder plantation covers 20 % of campus area. Major varieties cultivated includes Stylo hemata, Stylo scabara, Guinea grass, Subabul K-8 Subabul Cunninghamia, Caliandra, Clothyrsus, Glyricidia spp, Albizia lebbek, Dalbergia sissoo, Moringia and Melia dubia.
- Bamboo Arboretum:
The arboretum has 14 species of 48 provenances. This is established mainly to study the performance and the extent of adaptablity. This has also turned out to be a very good demonstration plot.
- Nursery Raising & Grafting Technologies for Horticulture, Forestry & Medicinal Plants:
The nursery unit aims to demonstrate cost efficient nursery raising and grafting technologies that can be adapted by farmers, especially those whose investment capacity is poor. The unit also supplies plant materials to farmers at nominal cost.
- Mother Orchards:
A mother orchard of various fruit species that is established in the campus supplies quality propagation materials.
- Ethno-medicinal Forest
Established in 12 acres, the EMF conserves various medicinal plants, especially the endangered species that are indegenous of the region.
- The Sericulture Unit:
This unit consists of mulberry cultivation plots, silk worm production & supply centre and rearing and reeling centres. Reeling unit is equipped with sophisticated multi-end reeling and re-reeling machines with 3 pan cooking system. The unit ensures timely supply of critical inputs such as Disease Free Laying (DFLs) and training to the field extension projects. The unit also extends its services to needy farmers and agencies outside.
- Drip Irrigated Cocunut Plantation using Solar Pumps
This system pumps 75000 litters of water in 5.5 hours / day. Currently, it is being successfully used to irrigate 420 coconut trees.
- Energy Plantation:
Established in about 20% of the campus area this consists of various species of fuel-wood value. The arboretum of over 30 agro-forestry species established in 1.33 acres is a very good demonstration that helps farmers to select species for plantation in thier own land.
- Experiments with Bio-fuel
The centre has initiated experiments to promote bio-fuel as an alternative to desel, using non-edible oil sources. Currently tree born oil species such as Madhucca, Jatropha and Pongamia etc are used for this purpose.
- Composting Methods
Demonstrations and training in cost efficient composting technologies are available in the campus. Methods like NADEPP compost, coir pith composting and vermicomposting are some of the practices adopted. The unit also supplies earthworms to farmers and other interested public.
