JABALPUR, June 27:
Citing growth of agriculture sector as an effective tool to fight poverty, President Pranab Mukherjee today stressed on re-orientation of agriculture universities and encouraged students to spearhead next farm revolution.
Speaking at a function here, the President said agriculture universities have a huge stake in the success of the farm sector as well as welfare of the common man.
“The yardstick of their (universities) performance is the quality of graduates being produced. We require committed, capable and hard working professionals from our agricultural institutions to spearhead the next farm revolution,” he said at Golden Jubilee Convocation ceremony of Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya here.
Asserting that agriculture is a sector crucial on many counts, Mukherjee said, it determines the performance of our economy, ensures food availability and nutritional security, creates rural employment and boosts grassroot income.
“A great challenge before our nation is to end the curse of poverty and deprivation. Poverty has no religion, hunger no creed, and despair no geography. Mere poverty alleviation is not enough. It is poverty elimination that can truly herald India’s arrival in the comity of advanced nations.
“Studies have inferred that a one percentage growth in agriculture is two to three times more effective in fighting poverty than a one percentage growth in non-farm sectors,” the President said.
Mukherjee said development and management of skilled human resource is vital for realising the potential of the agricultural sector.
He also suggested improvement in country’s educational system to ensure that Indian universities find their place among world’s best institutions.
“India has been a front runner in higher learning from ancient times. Agriculture was taught at the world-renowned universities of Takshashila and Nalanda.
“Yet over the years, we have not been able to maintain our position. Global recognition eludes our agricultural universities today.
“It is a reflection of our overall higher education system, which cannot boast of a single Indian institution in the top 200 universities in the world,” he said stressing on “academic excellence”.
Mukherjee said the interest of bright students in the agricultural profession has to be stimulated.
“For that, proper counselling at the school level has to take place.This would sow the seeds of fascination amongst children for agricultural education.
“Agriculture has to evolve into a rewarding occupation for those who want to make it their career. This calls for steps at the institutional level,” the President said.
Mukherjee also suggested that stronger ties with the private sector have to be forged and potential entrepreneurs encouraged through networking, internship opportunities, sensitisation workshops and facilities for business incubators.
“An innovative model of agri-entrepreneurship could result in a boom not only for the food sector but for the rural economy as well,” he said.
Students in agricultural disciplines have to be infused with skills and competencies to enable them to work in a multi-functional set up, he added.
Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan among others were present during the function. (PTI)
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