Governor Droupadi Murmu has asked the farmers’ community in general and Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) in particular to focus on entrepreneurship in agriculture sector.
Inaugurating the 3-day Agrotech Kisan Mela at BAU today, she asked the University to demonstrate concerted efforts in this regard, as it was not only in favour of agriculture sector to have young professionals working with them, but was also one of the prime reasons of having such institutions like BAU.
She said livestocks were like Goddess laxmi for villagers who get benefitted from them in multifarious ways. “Barren land should be developed as pasture for cattle grazing and fodder production farms. Balanced development of the state cannot be ensured without the development of villages and farmers because soul of the country and the state resides in villages,” added Murmu, also the ex-officio Chancellor of the University.
Hailing the state government’s decision to set up Krishi Vigyan Kendras in all the sub divisions by next year in which nine are to be started this year itself, she said seminars, trainings and technology fairs needed to be taken down to sub divisional level also. She also stressed on organising exposure visits of farmers to agriculturally advanced states. Mechanised farming was the solution to the labour problems in the state, she said, adding that more and more passing out students from BAU needed to be attracted to turn agriculture entrepreneurs.
Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperative Department Secretary Dr Nitin Madan Kulkarni expressed positivity over Jharkhand registering growth rate of 10-11 percent in agriculture which was higher than most of the other states. “Credit for this achievement goes to hard labour of farmers. BAU has to play an important role in doubling farmers’ income by 2022 through improved technologies because land and irrigation are limited. Concerted efforts should be made to retain existing ones and attract new youths in farming profession,” Dr Kulkarni added.
He said that the State Government has set up four cold storages in the current financial year and 10 have been planned to be set up during next fiscal.
He said outcome of BAU shall be assessed by the increase in production, productivity, income and living standards of farmers and development of the state’s rural economy, therefore, scientists should focus their attention on this aspect.
While welcoming the guests, BAU Vice Chancellor Dr Parvinder Kaushal said that seven new colleges and about a dozen certificate and diploma courses were ready to be started from current session 2017-18. “Besides, seats of undergraduate courses of existing three colleges have been increased. This requires immediate filling up of existing vacant posts and to be sanctioned posts,” said Kaushal.
The VC also outlined the institution’s problems, including ACP/ MACP for non-teaching employees and additional fund for casual labourers’ wages. He said Skill Development Centre and Centre for Tribal Agriculture will be established in the University.
Five farmers Sumitra Nandan Mahto (Kasmar, Bokaro), Damodar Singh (Patan, Palamu), Gondra Oraon (Mandar, Ranchi), Sonia Tudu (Gamharia, Saraikela-Kharsawan) and Sukhdeo Oraon (lohardaga) were honoured by the Governor for their innovative farming. BAU Kisan Diary was also released on the occasion.
Besides faculties, departments and zonal research stations of BAU, ICAR institutes like Indian Institute of Natural Resins & Gums, Central Upland Rainfed Rice Research Station, Hazaribag, ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region (Research Centre, Ranchi), Krishi Vigyan Kendras of all districts, NGOs, dealers of seeds, pesticides, fertilisers, processed foods have put up their technologies, products and services at the 140 stalls at the Mela.