“Telangana Horticultural University Hosts 3rd Convocation on June 11

Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University Third Convocation on June 11

Hyderabad June 09

Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University, located at Mulugu headquarters in Siddipet district, is preparing for its third convocation. The graduation ceremony will be held under the patronage of Telangana State Governor CP Radhakrishnan. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor Dr. V. Geethalakshmi will be the chief guest. Dr. Neeraja Prabhakar, Vice-Chancellor of Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University, has made all necessary arrangements for this significant event.

Brief Profile of SKLTSHU

Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University (SKLTSHU) was established after the formation of Telangana state as per the 13th Schedule of the A.P. Reorganization Act-2014, effective from 23.12.2014. The university focuses on teaching, research, and extension. It comprises three Colleges of Horticulture, three Horticultural Polytechnics, eleven Research Stations, and one Krishi Vigyan Kendra. New colleges sanctioned by the Government of Telangana in 2023 include the Horticulture College for UG programs at Malyal, Mahbubabad District, and the Horticulture Polytechnic College at Kollapur, Nagarkurnool District.

SKLTSHU admits students into B.Sc. (Hons) Horticulture, M.Sc. (Horticulture), and Ph.D. (Horticulture) programs. The postgraduate programs (M.Sc. & Ph.D.) offer specializations in:

1. Floriculture and Landscaping
2. Fruit Science
3. Plantation, Spices, Medicinal and Aromatic Crops
4. Vegetable Science

The annual intake capacity is 200 students for the Diploma in Horticulture, 296 for B.Sc. (Hons) Horticulture, 42 for M.Sc. Horticulture, and 9 for Ph.D. Horticulture, including EWS and ICAR quotas.

The university has granted affiliation to the Forest College and Research Institute (FCRI), Mulugu, and two private horticulture polytechnics. FCRI offers a 4-year B.Sc. (Hons) Forestry program with an intake capacity of 65. The postgraduate programs include a 2-year M.Sc. Forestry with an intake of 24, and a Ph.D. Forestry program initiated in 2022 with an intake of 14 in four departments of Forestry:

1. Silviculture and Agroforestry
2. Forest Biology and Tree Improvement
3. Forest Products and Utilization
4. Forest Resource Management

SKLTSHU initiated its postgraduate program in the AY 2022-23 at the Post Graduate Institute of Horticultural Sciences (PGIHS) in Mulugu, Siddipet. The university has also procured 80 acres of cultivable land for an instructional farm to conduct student research studies.

A notable achievement of the university is its accreditation by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, for its colleges and programs: B.Sc. (Hons) Horticulture, M.Sc. (Horticulture), and Ph.D. (Horticulture) in four departments.

The university facilitated the registration of the farmer’s variety “Nalgonda Dosakaya” of Oriental Pickling Melon from the Biodiversity Management Committee of Aitipamula, Nalgonda district, Telangana, with the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act (PPV&FRA), 2021, New Delhi.

It established oil palm gardens using both triangle and square system methods, each in one hectare, as model gardens at KVK, Ramagirikhilla, and Madanapuram farm of COH, Mojerla.

The university has standardized low-cost portray nursery seedling raising technology in turmeric and ginger and organic turmeric production technology. It also developed dry flower technology under RKVY and published a book in English. Additionally, SKLTSHU published “Udyana Darshini-2023-24“ in Telugu, detailing the package of practices.

In the near future, the university aims to establish two new research stations/centers: the AICRP Sub Center for Potato at FRS, Sangareddy (communicated to ICAR), and the Chilli & Seed Spice Research Station in Narsampet, Warangal district, to facilitate region-specific research.

Brief Profile of Dr. Geethalakshmi Vellingiri, Vice Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore

Dr. (Smt.) Geethalakshmi Vellingiri, Vice Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, is a renowned expert in Agricultural Meteorology with over 32 years of service at TNAU in various capacities.

Dr. V. Geethalakshmi has undergone post-doctoral training in weather forecasting, climate modeling, climate change, and climate-resilient technology development at renowned international institutes in Australia, the UK, the US, Israel, and Japan.

She has established research collaborations with 40 premier institutions across five continents and successfully completed 23 externally funded research projects worth Rs. 59 crores. She has promoted eight agribusiness incubation centers at TNAU and released 10 new technologies, six farm implements, and 23 improved crop varieties in major crops including paddy, pulses, millets, oilseeds, sugarcane, sun hemp, horticulture, and forest trees during January 2023 for the benefit of farmers.

Dr. Geethalakshmi has published over 120 research papers in peer-reviewed journals, authored 11 books, and 36 book chapters. She has received 21 awards, including the “Indian Meteorological Society Fellow” by the Indian Meteorological Society (IMS).

Degrees to be Conferred

In this third convocation ceremony, degrees will be conferred as follows:

• 156 students with Horticulture degrees
• 50 students with Forestry degrees
• 45 students with Horticulture PG degrees
• 30 students with Forestry PG degrees
• 1 student with a Ph.D.

For more information and updates on the convocation, please stay tuned.