Green Grade……Mahesh Joshi
Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (BAMU) has grown around 7,215 trees in 142 acres of barren land in five years. This is the first-ever successful project implemented in a non-agricultural university under the National Horticulture Board
Had there been a national ranking for greenness on campuses, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (BAMU) in Aurangabad would have notched a top slot.
Under the first-ever commercial horticulture project implemented in a non-agricultural university, BAMU has grown around 7,215 trees on a swathe of 142 acres of university’s barren land in -— in a period of just five years.
The horticulture project — to grow commercial trees in the varsity’s wasteland — is the brainchild of then BAMU management council member Dr Sudhir Gavhane who had proposed it to then vice-chancellor Dr K P Sonawane in 2001. Dr Ghavane had intended to complete the project under the Employment Guarantee Scheme.
However, it was in 2005 when union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar had visited the BAMU campus during a convocation ceremony that Dr Gavhane and then acting V-C Krishna Bhoge discussed the project with Pawar, who asked them to pursue it under the National Horticulture Board’s schemes.
“A proposal was soon submitted,” Kishore Nirmal, renowned horticulturist and who was chosen to head the project, told The Indian Express.
Nirmal, before joining BAMU, worked on horticulture projects in Mauritius and Switzerland.
A special University Campus Development committee was set up to supervise the project while Nirmal outlined a plan that required an initial investment of Rs 1.25 crore with 25 per cent subsidies from the union government.
A study ensued after which BAMU zeroed in on popular varieties of five fruits.
“The saplings of mango, custard apple, chiku (Manilkara Zapota), Emblica Officinalis (amla or gooseberry) and tamarind were bought from nurseries authorised by agricultural universities from across the state, said Dr Manvendra Kachole, registrar, BAMU.
Soon, 1,530 saplings of tamarind’s Coimbatore variety, 945 of Narendra 10 and 7 varieties, 1,325 of kesar and Alphonso mangoes, 3,000 of custard apples trees of Annona-2 and Balanagar varieties while 415 saplings of chiku were planted.
Dr Gavhane said the key area of irrigation was taken care of by raising the water level of around 40 old wells on the campus and constructing canals and bund by the varsity’s National Service Scheme students.
“The drip irrigation system was put in place to meet the water requirement and avoid water losses,” he added.
Nirmal said students from various departments and also those who had registered their names in BAMU’s learn- and-earn scheme assisted him in the implementation of the project.
In the very first season, BAMU raised 1.5 quintals (150 kg) of custard apples and about 20 quintals (200 kg) of amla. The Balanagar variety of custard apples were sold at Rs 40 per kg while Annona-2 variety fetched Rs 50 per kg. Custard apples alone generated a revenue of Rs 40,000 and amla close to Rs 20,000.
For amla, Nirmal hit upon another idea — to make use of the university’s state-of-the-art chemical technology department which is equipped with high-definition food processing unit.
A proposal in this respect was readily accepted by BAMU registrar Dr Kachole.
Around 10 quintals of concentrated amla drink and amla candy were prepared at the department.
“We have got six times more price by processing the amla. Our amla drink is available at a price of Rs 50 for 500 ml and Rs 200 per kg for amla candy. At an expenditure of only about Rs 50,000, products worth Rs 1.5 lakh have been prepared. The same is expected to exceed after processing the remaining 10 quintals of amla,” said Nirmal.
Dr Devanand Shinde, Head, Chemical Technology department, said utmost care is taken to make hygeinic products.
Acting V-C of BAMU and full-time V-C of the North Maharashtra University Dr Khanderao Patil said the project has had several benefits.
“First, the barren land turned green; we are generating revenues for the varsity; the chemical technology students are gaining practical knowledge of food processing and finally, the needy learn-and-earn students are able to make some money. This was the first such project under the national horticulture board in India implemented in any non-agricultural university. The government trusted us and we have proved ourselves.”
For his part, Nirmal has another plan up his sleeve. He wants to increase the production of amla pickles, morabba and also mango products. For that he has sought an independent food processing unit from the varsity. This proposal, too, has been cleared.
* Different varieties of five fruits, tamarind, amla, custard apple, chiku and mango, are being grown on the BAMU campus.