(ANS – Sulcorna) - The University Affiliation Inquiry Committee visited the agricultural college site at Don Bosco Agro-Ed Complex,  Sulcorna, Goa on May 25, 2015 and granted approval for a four-year B.Sc. degree programme to begin from the academic year 2015-16, in the state of Goa.

By Fr Allwyn D’Souza, SDB

Through the gracious donation of Mr. Humberto Mascarenhas, in the early sixties, the Salesians of the Province of Panjim, inherited a huge farm of 810 acres. Initially, besides carrying out some agricultural plantation, the Salesians ran a primary school for children of the farm workers. With the opening of a boarding section in the late seventies the number of children in the primary school increased and permission was granted to start a state-aided school.

Now, as a project for the bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco, the province decided to start a college offering a B.Sc.in Agriculture in 2015. The efforts over a year and a half have slowly but steadily moved towards reaching this objective. In the month of May, the management got all the required permissions, the last of which was the visit of the Affiliation Inquiry Committee  which happened on 25 May, the feast of Mary Help of Christians this year.

All preparations are now in place to start the academic year on 1 July 2015. For greater upward mobility the course is recognised by the Indian Council of Agriculture and Research, New Delhi and the syllabus followed is that of the National Indian Council of Agriculture Research. It is a grant-in-aid college where 50% of the places are reserved for students from the state of Goa and another 40% will be reserved for students from any other Indian state.

For the students to have sufficient hands-on training the managements has set aside 110 acres of fertile land to be used for the practicals. Organic cultivation will be given special emphasis all through the four-year degree programme. 

Published 09/06/2015