Food security essential for India, says Dr T Ramasami

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 10

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) held its annual convocation on Friday, wherein a total of 338 students, including PhD, MSC, MTech, MCA, MBA, MBA (agri-business) and MJMC (2016-17 session) were awarded degrees.

Eighty five students received merit certificates and 10 gold medals for excellence in academics. Three agriculture stalwarts, including Dr VL Chopra, Dr SS Johl and Dr SK Vasal were conferred with honorary doctorate degrees.

Dr T Ramasami, former secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, was the chief guest, whereas Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, presided over the event.

Dr Ramasami said, “India at present not only feeds nearly 130 crore people but also exports produce to other needy nations. The current food grain production exceeds 270 million tonnes.”

“India at 2035 will be the most populous country. Food and nutritional security, climate resilient and sensitive agriculture are the directions of change for new India,” he said.

Giving a clarion call to agricultural scientists, Dr Ramasami said the future calls for holistic restructuring of research, education and extension with research as focus and global competiveness as core value, interconnections of competencies and knowledge resources.

He said, “Focus should also be on enrolling farmer as knowledge co-worker and redefining extension as participative research for developing farmer-friendly technical solutions. Positioning of new governance models for agricultural research, education and extension, built on public-private-people partnership (PPPP) could also contribute.”

While congratulating degree recipients and prize winners, Dr Ramasami said, “You are the roving ambassadors of the university, unleashed into the landscape of Indian agricultural science and technology.”

Dr Dhillon presented an overview of research, teaching and extension activities and achievements of the year 2016-17. Dr Pankaj Rathore, Director, Regional Research Station, Faridkot, was conferred with ‘Award of Plaque, Merit Certificate and Citation 2016-17” in recognition of his outstanding contribution to cotton research.

Dr MS Kang, former Vice-Chancellor, PAU, Dr AS Nanda, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and members of PAU’s board of management were also present on the occasion.