US agriculture team visits Kollengode

A team of agricultural scientists and students from Iowa State University, U.S., visited the expansive farmlands of Kollengode earlier this week. The 14-member delegation, led by Ajay Nair, professor of agriculture, and Catherine Suboda, associate professor, studied various farming practices being followed in and around the region.

Kollengode Agro Film City hosted the American delegation. Welcoming the team, Film City president N. Sudhodhanan said that there was much for the U.S. team to understand as well as to suggest.

Secretary K. Jayakrishnan, executive members V. Uadayaprakash, C. Krishnankutty, C. Vijayan and Dhanesh Raveendran welcome the delegation by offering flowers.

The delegation visited sprawling paddy fields, flowering mango orchards, organic farms, banana plantations and coconut groves in Kollengode and surrounding areas.

The delegation expressed surprise at the large number of local tourists visiting Kollengode to enjoy its natural beauty. They suggested promoting agri-tourism by adopting modern techniques such as soil-quality sensors, mini weather stations to protect plantains and bananas, and the use of advanced technology for toxin-free pesticides.

They interacted with local farmers and shared agricultural knowledge at the Kollengode Mango Village.