Wayanad, Tuesday 03 August 2010: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has said the proposed Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University at Pookode in Wayanad will have a major role in determining the food security, economy and employment sectors of the State.

Addressing the public after laying the foundation stone for the headquarters of the university at the Veterinary College Auditorium here, Achuthanandan said the four veterinary colleges and the 18 research institutes in the State would function under the university.

By setting up a veterinary university, the government was planning to boost cattle wealth, curb various diseases afflicting cattle and attain self-sufficiency in the production of egg, milk and meat. The studies relating to animal science should be developed and reformed according to the changing world scenario, Achuthanandan said.

“The university will be a centre of knowledge not only for teachers, researchers and veterinary students but also a refuge for dairy farmers,” he said. The research scholars, teachers and students of the university should be obliged to the farming community as the varsity was established for the wellbeing of farmers.

The Chief Minister said the LDF government was setting up the university after implementing many development schemes in the dairy and farming sectors. Achuthanandan said the government had adopted various measures to increase the production of milk and meat as well, which had started to yield results.

The Chief Minister said the government had set up a medical university a few weeks ago in Thrissur and the government was planning to set up a fisheries university aimed at comprehensive development of the fisheries sector.

He said the government had implemented various measures to improve the academic sector. Minister for Animal Husbandry C. Divakaran presided over the function. Minister for Agriculture Mullakkara Ratnakaran was the chief guest.