Baramulla, June 17 (KNS):Amid the pandemic which otherwise has restricted the curricular and co-curricular activities, the Department of Botany, Govt Boys Degree College Baramulla strives to keep up its on-campus research as the second produce of Vermicompost project was made ready today. The Department initiated the project two years ago and so far a good quantity of Vermicompost has been produced. The Vermicompost crop is being sold to farmers and faculty members at a reasonable price.

Vermicompost is the product of the decomposition process using various species of worm, to create a mixture of decomposing vegetable or food waste, bedding materials, and vermicast. It contains water-soluble nutrients and is an excellent, nutrient-rich organic fertilizer and soil conditioner. It is used in farming and small scale sustainable, organic farming, and can also be applied for treatment of sewage.
Among other on-campus projects is the Cocoon Club established in collaboration with the Department of Sericulture. The college provides space for cultivation of Mulberry plants and a shed for raring cocoons. “The collaborative activity is aimed to sensitize college students about the economic aspect of raring cocoons for production of silk,” said Prof A M Chalko, in-charge of the project.
In the second leg of Cocoon club activity, the Department facilitated procurement of Silk worms from the farmers of the adjoining villages through Department of Sericulture last summer.
“ Through these practical activities, the College students are given on-spot demonstration of these highly productive agriculture and farming methods,” said Prof A R Malik, HoD Botany. The aim is to sensitise students about opportunities in opting agro based courses to enable them to earn while learning, he added.
In yet another unique project, the Department made strenuous efforts to grow Saffron in the campus. For this purpose, soil samples of the Botanical Garden of the College were undertaken and after it was found suitable for Saffron cultivation, corms were sown in . “As the crop showed tremendous vigour, it helped us in imparting the students hands-on training regarding various phases of Saffron plant growth,” said Prof Malik.
Besides Saffron, Mushroom cultivation has also been undertaken by the Department.(KNS)