Amarajeevi Potti Sri Ramulu Nellore District

NELLORE: The Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) which is coming up with a Kisan-Special Economic Zone (K-SEZ) in about 2,800 acres in Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore district is planning to set up an Agriculture University in the SEZ. The proposed university would be established with the help of Netherlands-based Wageningen University, as part of the technology transfer agreement made with the university officials. Apart from the university, IFFCO is also proposing to start a gas-based mini power plant and a sewage treatment plant in the K-SEZ. More than 50,000 persons including skilled, semi-skilled, technicians and engineers would be provided employment in the SEZ, which is also called as agro food park, said the IFFCO officials. The new Agriculture University will focus on Research and Development activities in production, processing, storage, packing and trading and imparting training for agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, aquaculture and dairy farmers in the Rural Transformation Centres being launched by IFFCO. The company officials are planning to have a tie-up with Acharya N.G. Ranga Agriculture University, IIIT and other universities for producing new varieties of rice, vegetables and horticulture crops and provide better marketing facilities for the products. Speaking to The Hindu, IFFCO Chief Executive Officer M. Rajashekharaiah said the proposed Agriculture University would be utilised only for taking up Research and Development and for providing training for the staff and farmers in the SEZ, but not for running regular courses.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/01/02/stories/2010010256270500.htm