Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) budget for 2013-14 focuses on flagship academic programmes and innovative research projects.
The zero deficit budget with a total outlay of `164.4 crore and an equal amount of expenditure was presented by T N Pratapan MLA and governing council member of the varsity at the ninth session of the University Governing Council held in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday.
KUFOS Vice-Chancellor Professor B Madhusoodana Kurup, chaired the meet.
Non-Plan Expenditure
The non-plan expenditure for the next fiscal is pegged at `17.91 crore. A sum of `15.91 crore is expected from state government as grant in aid towards non-plan receipt. Prathapan said that KUFOS is expecting additional supplementary grant towards non-plan fund for payment of PF contribution of KUFOS employees and other retirement benefits.
New Courses
With a budget outlay of `16.03 crore for education, new courses proposed in the next academic year are LLM in Maritime Law, post- graduate programmes in GIS, remote sensing and satellite oceanography, Aquatic Animal Health Management, Food Science and Technology, Applied Fishery Engineering and Fishing Technology, Applied Geo Science, Business statistics, and MTech in Coastal Zone management.
Plan Fund
The budget outlay for various activities under Plan fund is worked out as `67.32 crore.
Research and Development
With a budget allocation of `6.92 crore for various research and development activities, the varsity aims to diversify the aquaculture species index of the state by introducing more number of indigenous fish species germplasm resources to the aquaculture basket.
The Univesity is all set to carry out experimental farming trials of Vennamei shrimp in the instructional farms of Fisheries station Puthuvypu and develop the farming protocols suitable for the Pokkali shrimp farms of Kerala.
Shrimp Farming
To achieve both ecological and economic sustainability of shrimp aquaculture, the budget envisages setting up of a centre of Biofloc Technology.
Prof Alikunhi Chair
A chair will be instituted in honour of Professor Alikunhi, Father of Indian Aquaculture, to conduct various cutting edge research in augmenting aquaculture production and productivity in the state.
Strengthening of Research Centres
The budget also proposes strengthening of various research centres established in KUFOS such as aquaclinic, fish nutrition and feed technology, aquaculture biotechnology and genetics, fish seed bank, inland fishery data base and fish germ plasm, arichiving indigenous knowledge of traditional fishermen, bioactive compound from marine organisms and mangrove propagation centre at Puthuvypu.
Extension Education
An amount of `4.08 crore has been allotted for strengthening the extension education. Matsya Vignana Vyapana Kendra project will be launched with the participation of local bodies to impart knowledge to fish farmers. Call centre facilities will be established at the university. Incubation centres will be set up for a closer interaction between industry and university. A model fish processing unit will be set up in KUFOS headquarters which can impart state-of-the-art technology in fish processing sector and value addition of fishery products.
Fisheries Extension Centre:To develop enterprenuership among the students, ‘earn while you learn’ programme will be introduced. A fisheries extension centre will begin at the Thiruval.
The budget also proposes provision for setting up various infrastructure development research, education and administration with a financial assistance of `38 crore which needs to be utilised to procure a coastal research vessel to undertake various research activities and imparting training to students on sea going, construction of academic and administrative facilities at Puthuvypu campus for setting up of Schools on Ocean Science and Technology and Ocean Engineering, construction of PG hostels and residential accommodation for staff at KUFOS headquarters, landscaping and campus beautification, modernisation of laboratories, renovation of hatchery complexes, installation of solar panels for energy conservation, development of green campus and setting up of biogas and vermicompost units for waste valorisation.
KUFOS expects `28 crore from other funding sources, including Ministry of Earth Sciences, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Department of Biotechnology and efforts to raise the revenue from aquafarms, consultancy, externally-aided projects will be made, Pratapan said.