According to Himanshu Pathak, director general of ICAR and secretary to the government of India’s Department of Agricultural Research and Education, for India to become a developed country, agriculture must be reformed.
In his speech at the 36th annual convocation of the University of Agricultural Science, he stated that strengthening Indian agriculture requires scientific research and innovative methods.
“Our society’s foundation and the subject of your competence, agriculture, has to be revitalised. Our small and marginal farmers are the ones who are most affected by climate change and its effects. India is dry, arid, and at serious risk of drought throughout more than 69% of its territory. In India, about 85% of rural women work in labour-intensive farming activities with no access to modern technology”.
He advised the recent graduates that in order for them to thrive, solid delivery models for market links are required, and they should be leveraged to ensure a sound environment and sustainable and revitalising practices.
The country’s universities and research institutions, according to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, play a significant role in teaching and encouraging the younger generation to develop new technologies and lead the nation to global leadership. The younger generation must meet the nation’s objectives, he claimed, as the rest of the world looks to India for leadership as it emerges as a significant and inventive nation.
The new administration has introduced a number of programmes to empower the populace, according to the provost and agriculture minister Chluvarayaswamy. He suggested that the government work with farm experts to grow the state. The VC, PL Patil, welcomed everyone and gave a report outlining the accomplishments of the university in several departments.
On this occasion, honorary doctorate degrees were given to environmentalists Padmashri Tulasi Goud of Uluvare in the Ankola taluk of Uttar Kannada and Padmashri Abdulkhadar Imamsab Nadakattin, director of the Vishwashanti Krishi Research Centre in Annigeri, Dharwad district. Degrees were awarded to 966 applicants in total (71 doctorates, 269 masters, and 626 bachelors).
Akshatha K was awarded a gold medal in the undergraduate programme and a gold medal from the Sitaram Jindal Foundation for achieving the best OGPA (9.394/10) in the B.Sc (Agri) degree programme. While Veena Ravi Naik won the UAS gold medal for earning the highest OGPA (9.119/10) in B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture Marketing & Cooperation, Renuka Shahapur won the Prof S.D. Kololgi Memorial gold medal for earning the highest OGPA (9.277/10) in horticulture.