The proposed Dairy Science College at Nettukalthery in Kallikadu panchayat, Thiruvananthapuram, has not moved beyond the land transfer stage, while more than Rs 6.4 crore worth of projects have been proposed for Jersey farms at Vithura and Chettachal in Aruvikkara constituency.
Minister for Animal Husbandry Bindu Krishna told the Kerala Assembly that 6.4749 hectares, or about 16 acres, had been earmarked for the college under Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University. The land is part of a 206.45-hectare property in Block 31 of Kallikadu village in Kattakada taluk.
Although the government approved the transfer on February 17, the land has not yet been surveyed, demarcated or formally handed over to the university. The minister said further steps would be taken after the transfer is completed.
A detailed project report for the college can be prepared only after the boundaries are demarcated, according to the Assembly response. No timeline has been fixed for starting construction.
The proposed college project includes a modern dairy farm, a training centre and research facilities. These are intended to support student training, teaching and research, as well as provide technical assistance to dairy farmers. The current status means that the project remains dependent on completing administrative and land-record procedures before design and construction planning can advance.
Separately, the state’s 2026-27 scheme for strengthening Animal Husbandry Department farms has allocated Rs 2 lakh to the Jersey Farm Extension Unit at Chettachal and Rs 7 lakh to the Jersey Farm at Vithura. The allocations cover parent stock, feed, fodder cultivation, nutrients, medicines and biologicals.
Additional district panchayat projects at Vithura include Rs 2.20 crore for feed, fodder cultivation and medicines, Rs 20 lakh for operational expenses, Rs 33 lakh for solar fencing and Rs 87 lakh under a spillover project.
At Chettachal, the proposed works include Rs 15 lakh for fodder development, Rs 1.4 crore for feed, fodder cultivation and medicines, Rs 25 lakh each for the farm, hatchery and Green Milk operations, Rs 3.5 lakh for ISO certification, Rs 13 lakh for a bulk milk cooler and packing unit, and Rs 5 lakh for a drinking water connection.
A Rs 32 lakh pump house is also under construction at the Chettachal farm. The projects cover farm operations, animal nutrition, processing, water access and perimeter protection across the two facilities.
The minister was responding to questions raised by Parassala MLA C K Harindran and Aruvikkara MLA G Stephen. The next formal step for the proposed college is the survey, demarcation and handover of the earmarked land to Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University.
