Visitors from the Department of Horticulture, Iowa State University, USA, along with farm staff and students from Kerala. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
The 20-acre farm on St Xavier’s College campus in Thumba, run by state award-winning farmer SV Sujith, had visitors from Iowa State University in the US on Tuesday.
Students and teachers from the University’s Department of Horticulture discussed with Mr. Sujith the methods of growing vegetables on the farm and aspects related to pest control, mechanization and fertigation.
Mr. Sujith runs his Naaden Agro Farm on 20 acres leased by the college. He is the winner of the 2022 State Farm Awards Haritha Mithra Award for Best Vegetable Grower.
He grows over 30 varieties of vegetables on the farm under the ‘Safe to Eat’ system with the help of scientists from Kerala Agricultural University (KAU). Mr. Sujith also explained to the visitors the vegetable traceability system that is being implemented at the farm with the help of KAU, Krishi Vigyan kendra Mitra Niketan, Vellanad and Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology.
The 14-member Iowa State University team was led by faculty members Catherine Swoboda and Ajay Nair. The visit was locally coordinated by Gayathri G., Assistant Professor at KAU College of Agriculture, Vellayani.
During the last Onam season, sunflower flowers at the farm attracted many visitors.
Published – 14 Jan 2026 21:42 IST
