Addressing the second convocation of the Centurion University of Technology and Management which was held on the outskirts of the city here on Monday, Green Revolution father Padma Bibhusan Dr MS Swaminathan said that hunger was still a major problem in India and laid stress on development of high-yielding and disease resistant seeds to tackle it.
He said that despite growth in food grain production in the country, one in eight persons goes to bed hungry every night, while one in three children stays malnourished. “To get out the situation, the need of the hour is to have post harvest technology and avoidance of waste,” observed Swaminathan.
He advised the present youths to be well- versed in the art and science of maximizing the benefit of good monsoon and minimizing the adverse impact of excess or deficit rainfall. Dr Swaminathan also laid stress on bio-technology and nuclear power.
To ensure bio-safety arising out of introduction of biotechnology, he insisted on setting up of a Bio-safety Regulatory Authority as well. Among others State Governor Dr SC Jamir, Bank of India CMD VR Iyar, Prof Muktikant Mishra and Prof DN Rao spoke. Vice Chancellor Dr D Nageswar Rao read out the annual report. As many as 614 students in BTech, 71 in MBA and 50 in MTech received degrees, while 10 got gold medals.