Make water smart farming a priority, says IARI Director; 38th annual convocation of UAS-D held-OxBig News Network

Gold medallists display their medals at the 38th annual convocation of University of Agricultural Sciences in Dharwad on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Director and Vice-Chancellor of ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, Ch. Srinivasa Rao has emphasised the need for making water-smart farming a priority.

He was delivering the convocation address at the 38th annual convocation of the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad, on the university campus in Dharwad on Wednesday.

Mr. Rao said that groundwater was like a bank balance and it should be utilised economically by doing water-smart farming.

Emphasising the need for taking farm education beyond the four walls of the classrooms, Mr. Rao analysed the agricultural scenario in Karnataka particularly with reference to North Karnataka and said that water conservation was crucial. He mentioned about the emerging opportunities in the field of oilseed and pulse production and value addition in North Karnataka.

Congratulating the candidates who had completed graduation and postgraduation, he spoke on the emerging opportunities for outgoing students. Mr. Rao stressed the role of the young minds in facing the challenges in agriculture, who he said were capable of ensuring sustainability in agriculture.

Addressing the gathering, Minister for Agriculture and Pro-Chancellor of UAS-D N. Cheluvarayaswamy lauded the university for its achievement in development of various new varieties. He called on the students and faculty to work on water conservation, organic farming, natural farming and digitalisation of the agriculture technologies.

Presiding over the convocation, Governor and Chancellor of UAS-D Thaawarchand Gehlot said that graduating students were ambassadors of agriculture and they had the ability to take progress of the nation to highest level. Technological advances should be adapted to make farming more smart, he said.

Welcoming the dignitaries, Vice-Chancellor P.L. Patil presented the progress report of the uUniversity, including teaching, research, extension, seed production and in various spheres.

On the occasion, honorary doctorates were conferred on three progressive farmers: Dyamanagouda Tammanagouda Patil of Hubballi (for transforming barren land to productive and fertile land), Shankar H. Langati of Belagavi (for conserving traditional varieties), and Muttanna V. Pujar of Hangal, Haveri district (for organic and natural farming).

Aishwarya Basarikatti and Kartik Chigari., who received four gold medals each for securing highest OGPA (9.205/10) each in BSc Agriculture (Hons) were jointly declared as ‘golden girl’ and ‘golden boy’.

Hemalatha C., BSc Agriculture (Hons) and Bharatkumar Viresh Goudar, BSc Agriculture (Hons) and Viresh Alamel, BSc Forestry (Hons) were awarded UAS gold medals for securing highest OGPA from Agriculture College, Vijayapura; Agriculture College, Hanumanamatti, and College of Forestry, Sirsi, respectively.

Nikita Nippani, BSc (Hons) Community Science, and Chitra U., BTech (Food Tech) received UAS gold medals for securing the highest OGPA in Community Science and Food Technology respectively.

In all, 863 candidates received 41 doctoral, 197 postgraduate, and 625 graduate degrees during the convocation. A total of 44 UAS gold medals, 20 other gold medals, and nine cash prizes were awarded to the students.

Registrar A. Bheemappa, members of board of management, Academic Council, deans of various colleges were present.