An educational visit was organized to the College of Horticulture, Yalachahalli, Yelawala.

Introduction

The College of Horticulture, Yalachahalli, Yelawala, Mysore is a constituent college of the University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot. It was established to promote education, research, and extension in horticultural sciences. The college offers a B.Sc. (Horticulture) programme with strong emphasis on practical and field-based learning. It is equipped with modern laboratories, experimental fields, and library facilities. The institution plays an important role in developing skilled horticulture professionals and supporting sustainable agricultural development.

Objectives

1. To provide students with practical exposure to modern horticultural practices and field operations.
2. To enhance students’ understanding of crop production, nursery management, and orchard practices.
3. To familiarize students with research facilities, laboratories, and academic activities of a horticultural institution.To motivate students towards higher studies and career opportunities in horticulture and allied sciences.

The college farm usually has fruit tree orchards where students can see and study various fruit crops such as mango, guava, sapota, citrus, and other fruit plants. This gives hands-on exposure to fruit production practices.

Open fields or blocks are often used to grow vegetable crops and seasonal experimental plots, giving students real examples of vegetable cultivation and crop management

There is usually a well-maintained nursery area where students learn practical nursery management. Here they raise seedlings, saplings, and grafts of horticultural plants — including fruit tree saplings, ornamentals, and other horticulture plants — under shade nets and protective structures

The nursery also demonstrated  vegetative propagation techniques like grafting, budding, cutting, and layering which are essential for producing quality planting material of fruit crops and ornamentals. Many horticulture colleges maintain floriculture blocks and ornamental gardens with flower crops and landscape plants such as roses, marigolds, gladioli, jasmine, and other decorative species. Students learn flower cultivation and landscaping concepts here.

STUDENT OUTCOME

• Students gained hands-on knowledge of horticultural farm operations, including crop cultivation and orchard management.
• They developed an understanding of nursery techniques such as seedling raising, grafting, and other vegetative propagation methods.
• The visit helped students relate theoretical concepts with real-time field practices in horticulture.
• Students became aware of modern technologies, infrastructure, and research activities in a horticulture college.

The exposure inspired students to explore higher studies and career opportunities in horticulture and allied agricultural fields