Sounding concerned over India not adequately rising up to the occasion in the matter of poverty alleviation, President Pranab Mukherjee said that as per the Global Hunger Index 2015, which combines three indicators of under-nourishment, child under-weight and child mortality, India is ranked the 80th out of 104 countries. "This is unacceptable," he said while stressing that “we have to improve the nutritional status of the country’s population in a time-bound manner”.
He was addressing the 29th convocation of Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology at Pant Nagar on Tuesday.
"Agricultural universities must become the focal points of agricultural growth and change and partnerships with other agricultural institutions must be taken up for joint research," he said. He further said that the adoption of more sustainable land use systems and soil management practices has become essential. "Agriculture must return to its roots by rediscovering the importance of healthy soil, drawing on natural sources of plant nutrition and using fertilizers judiciously and effectively. It also calls for greater investment in technology development and its on-farm adoption, deepening of markets and remunerative prices to farmers," President added.
"The time is ripe for new measures for sustainable intensification of agriculture. These include irrigation and continuous seed and breed improvement. Research is needed to ascertain the dynamics of toxic elements in the soil-crop system and to develop appropriate mechanisms for bio-remediation for safe use of water. Steps to enhance water harvesting, water-use efficiency and conjunctive use of water are necessary. These would result in net increase in irrigation potential. Our policies must address water productivity in totality," he stressed.
While addressing the convocation gathering, Uttarakhand Governor and Chancellor of Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, KK Paul said that he was happy to note that the varsity was actively involved in the development of new varieties and high yielding seeds.
"Agriculture should become the primary basis to mitigate health-related problems of the society. Besides the customary traditional crops, focus would have to be turned to growing pulses, vegetables and fruits so that all macro and micro nutrients were available to people at affordable prices," he said.
Stressing on health-oriented agriculture and cheaper availability of Proteins, he said this will have a phenomenal effect on the nation. "The name of the university would be written in golden letters in the history of the country as the harbinger as well as the cradle of the green revolution," he said, adding that GB Pant University of Agriculture was the only Indian university to feature in the BRICS university rankings.
Stating that agriculture has given the nation a distinction, he said that the role of the farmers and the farming community has to be given priority as without food security, all other areas would get relegated to the background. "Now, India has emerged as one of the global leaders. With our immense potential and focused multi-sectoral strategies for growth, the 21st Century, undoubtedly, is going to be India's Century. But, India will realize all its dreams only when agriculture continues to be at the heart of the Indian economy," he asserted.
Talking about Uttarakhand, he said that though agriculture in the hill State was full of challenges, it also had advantages over the plain areas and these included rain-fed areas, biodiversity, scope for low volume, high value crops like mushrooms, medicinal plants and flowers. He stressed the need for having a cold chain in place to ensure off-season production becomes profitable.
Chief Minister Harish Rawat expressed hope that passing out students would accept the challenges and contribute positively to the interests of the nation.
He said Uttarakhand's biodiversity should be utilized in full to improve the economic condition of the farmers. Facilities for storage of agricultural products in the hill areas and their processing are required, he said, adding that the university is well- equipped to face the challenges related to agriculture.
CM stressed on improving the contribution of Agriculture in GDP, reducing the speed of climate change through making agriculture eco-friendly, maintaining the carbon quantity in soil up to 2.5 percent, using the bio diversity of Uttarakhand to improve the financial condition of farmers.
Averring that the state needed a revival of agriculture and horticulture, he exhorted the agricultural scientists to develop agricultural equipments that are low-cost.
The CM said that milch animals, off-season vegetables, cultivation of herbs and traditional crops like Mandua and Chaulai needed to be encouraged with schemes .
Dwelling on the university's recent research and communication activities, vice- chancellor Dr Mangla Rai said that the university was committed to developing sustainable and eco-friendly agriculture.
Members of the management council and academic council of the university, MP Bhagat Singh Koshyari, MlA Rajesh Shukla and chief Secretary Shatrughan Singh were present on the occasion.