Iowa State University students and faculty visit a local farm

A 50-acre farm at St Xavier’s College campus in Thumba, run by state award-winning farmer SV Sujith, received visitors from Iowa State University, US, on Tuesday.

The students and teachers of the University’s Horticulture Department held discussions with Mr. Sujith on the vegetable cultivation methods adopted on the farm and aspects related to pest control, mechanization and fertigation.

Mr Sujith runs his Naaden Agro Farm on 20 acres leased from the university. He is the winner of the Haritha Mithra Award for Best Greengrocer, presented as part of the State Farm Awards for the year 2022.

At the farm, he grows more than 30 varieties of vegetables under the ‘Safe to Eat’ system, with the help of scientists from the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU). Mr Sujith also explained to the visitors the traceability system for vegetables being put into practice at the farm with the help of EAU, Krishi Vigyan kendra Mitra Niketan, Vellanad and Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology.

The 14-member team from Iowa State University was led by faculty members Catherine Swoboda and Ajay Nair. The visit was coordinated locally by Gayathri G., Assistant Professor at KAU College of Agriculture, Vellayani.

During the last Onam season, the farm’s sunflower blooms had attracted many visitors.