Delivering the thirty seventh annual convocation handle of the College of Agricultural Sciences in Dharwad on Thursday, Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board chairman Sanjay Kumar mentioned: “Regardless of India boasting of spectacular agricultural achievements, even rating as a serious producer and attaining self-sufficiency in staple grain like rice and wheat, it faces vital challenges and depends on imports for some essential commodities.”
“India nonetheless is determined by overseas international locations for spices, medicinal crops, important oils, decorative flowers and even pulses, greens and floriculture seeds. Whereas India enjoys surplus in some grain, a serious concern lies in edible oils. Home manufacturing meets solely 40% of the demand forcing the nation to depend on imports for the remaining 60%,” he mentioned.
He additionally identified that there’s a decline within the price of genetic acquire in staple crops like rice, wheat, maize and soyabean. “These crops present two-third of our calorie consumption and the present 1% annual yield enchancment is inadequate for long-term sustainability,” he added.
Dr. Kumar mentioned {that a} multi-pronged technique is required to deal with these challenges. These methods embrace encouragement for cultivation of at present imported crops, growth of strong seed manufacturing programme, enhancing analysis and growth and funding in analysis to enhance crop yields and develop climate-resilient varieties that stand up to altering climate patterns.
He mentioned that the way forward for Indian agriculture demanded greater than know-how and that new challenges like land fragmentation, combating pests and illnesses, soil and water administration, storage and transportation services have to be addressed.
Dr. Kumar known as upon recent graduates to work in direction of bettering the situation of India’s agriculture and guarantee farmers welfare and by no means to cease innovation. He hailed UAS Dharwad for its accomplishments in varied fields associated to agriculture analysis and growth and congratulated the vice-chancellor and college members.
Governor and Chancellor of UAS Thaawarchand Gehlot presided over the convocation.
The Governor introduced gold medals and prizes to profitable candidates. He mentioned that land beneath cultivation in India is shrinking whereas the inhabitants is rising leading to enhance in demand for agricultural produce. He felt that natural farming is the way in which out to beat this example.
Professional-Chancellor and Agriculture Minister N. Chaluvarayaswamy spoke. Vice-Chancellor P.L. Patil welcomed the gathering and defined the achievements of UAS Dharwad.
Honorary Doctorate (Honoris causa) was conferred in-absentia on ISRO chairman S. Somanath.
Shria S. Kari of Agricultural Faculty, Dharwad, gained three gold medals with OGPA of 9.209/10.
As many as 18 candidates shared 56 gold medals and 69 candidates acquired Ph.D levels. In all, 933 candidates had been conferred varied graduate and post-graduate levels.
