The Department of Botany organized an Educational field visit for I & III BZC students to Soans farm, Moodbidri, Sammilan Shetty’s Butterfly Park, Belvai, and Mangalore Biotech laboratory, Pumpwell, Mangalore on November 30, 2023. A group of 23 students accompanied by two teaching faculty Ms. Madhushree & Mrs. Nishvitha Shetty. We started the journey at 8.00am from Canara College, Mangalore towards Moodbidri. In the morning session, the students were first taken to Sammilan Shetty’s Butterfly Park, Belvai, where Mr. Sammilan Shetty, the resource person gave an brief introduction about host plant species found there and the species of butterfly visiting to that area. After that students were taken to the field to spot somne of the butterflies and to study about the host plant and the biotic interaction between them. Our students made a list of various butterfly species visiting there and the host plants. Post lunch students were taken to Soans farm, Moodbidri. The farm is famous for horticultural crops like pineapple, mango, banana and including spices like vanilla,stevia,nutmeg,allspice etc. The farm also has a rich collection of various fruit varieties from around the world. The farm is located on National Highway 13, 40Kms from Mangalore due North.4Km from Moodabidri due North and 14Kms from Karkala due South. Our students observed the different varieties of plants and made a detailed study about its cultivation process and taxonomical characters.
Next students were taken to Mangalore Biotech Laboratory, Pumpwell. Mr. Anandram Krishnan, manager gave a brief explanation about the sample testing processes undertaken by the laboratory and also introduced the staff. Students were divided in to groups and were taken to laboratory and the staff incharge explained the steps followed in food and water testing. Students were also briefed about the working principle and uses of different instruments used in microbiological laboratory.
Report by,
Ms.Madhushree
