Governor attends 22nd convocation of Assam Agricultural University
NE holds potential to usher in an evergreen revolution through organic food production: Prof. Mukhi
Guwahati, March: Assam Governor Prof. Jagdish Mukhi attended the 22nd Convocation of Assam Agricultural University held today at the University campus in Jorhat today which witnessed conferring of degrees upon 1601 students.
Governor Prof. Jagdish Mukhi who is also the Chancellor of the University while addressing the graduates said, “The success of education lies with the fact that its fruits remain attached with the root of the society so that they can guide our society to righteousness. The progress of any society in terms of economic upgradation, educational enlightenment, and better lifestyle should not mean that we get detached from our roots”. He, therefore, urged upon Assam Agricultural University to be at the fore-front to use education as the tool for social empowerment.
With regard to agriculture sector, where growing tendency was witnessed among the youth to shift from agriculture to service sector, the Governor said that Assam Agricultural University should take the responsibility to transform agriculture sector into a highly attractive one. He said, “One needs service sector, but what would happen if adequate production of food grain does not happen. If we don’t produce enough to feed, what will happen to us? Therefore, it is our prime duty to transform the agriculture sector into a highly attractive one. I am happy that the ICAR has started working in this direction and has come up with the project – ARYA (Attracting and retaining youth in agriculture), which tries to ensure Production, Profitability and Permanency”. The Governor said that that Assam Agricultural University will have to come up with an industrial model for the students to remain in agriculture so that they become job providers and not job seekers.”
Hailing the mission of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has assumed the responsibility to double the income of the farmers of the country, the Governor said that the country’s agriculture sector has been contributing very significantly to the process of nation-building. The achievements of agriculture during the COVID 19 pandemic were also very extraordinary.
He also said that Central Government took several bold steps to support the farmers of the country in recent times including farm credits. The highly ambitious project under the name “Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)” is proving to be a game changer. The government has transferred more than Rs. 1 lakh crore under this scheme so far.
The Governor further said that recently India added a feather to its cap of scientific achievement. In the field of agro-technology, recently there has been a big jump in the form of introduction of nano-urea by IFFCO for general use in the farm fields. The innovation has showcased the nation’s ability to develop and produce agri-inputs locally under “Atmanirvar Bharat” and “Atmanirvar Krishi”.
Governor further said that Assam Agricultural University has to play a strong role to address the emerging and upcoming challenges confronting the agriculture sector. This university has to travel that extra mile to meet the avowed objective of doubling farmers’ income. The North Eastern Region holds the hidden opportunity to even triple the food production and usher in an evergreen revolution through the organic mode of food production. The Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region, a sub-mission under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) is already in place to push this objective.
Prof. Mukhi also called upon the graduates and asked them to utilize their mental energies and physical fitness and work for social transformation. He also appealed them to be more focussed with their goals, resolute with their ideas and be committed to their mission.
The Convocation was attended by Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, MP Tapan Kumar Gogoi, Vice Chancellor Assam Women’s University Prof. Ajanta Borgohain Rajkonwar, Vice-Chancellor of Assam Agricultural University Dr. Bidyut C. Deka, Padma Shri Dr. Kushal Konwar Sarma, Deans, Heads of Departments and Centres and faculty members. Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education & Director General ICAR Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra was also present virtually.