Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi has asked the Assam Agricultural University to come up with an industrial model for students to remain in agriculture so that they become job providers and not job seekers.
He attended the 22nd Convocation of Assam Agricultural University held at the university campus in Jorhat today which witnessed the 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 up-gradation, educational enlightenment, and better lifestyle should not mean that we get detached from our roots”. He, therefore, urged Assam Agricultural University to be at the forefront to use education as the tool for social empowerment.
The 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 the 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” he said.
Concerning the agriculture sector, where a 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 the 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 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.”
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 the 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 the 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 to them to be more focused with their goals, resolute with their ideas and be committed to their mission.