Vice President calls for promotion of Agro-Based Industries for job creation in Rural Areas
VP asks agricultural universities to handhold
and support farmers’ collectives and FPOs
VP calls for greater use of technology in increasing the farmers’ income
Naidu lauds farmers for ensuring
nation’s food security amid COVID pandemic
VP calls for reversing the fall in standards seen in every walk of life
including politics and legislatures
Vice President addresses the 2nd Annual Convocation of Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Central Agricultural University, Pusa and inaugurated various projects
Strive to excel in your chosen domain and contribute towards the growth and
development of the country – Naidu to
students
The Vice
President, M Venkaiah Naidu today emphasised the need to promote agro-based
industries in rural areas so as to create employment opportunities for the
rural youth. Referring to the phenomena of reverse migration from cities to
villages during the COVID-19 pandemic, he said that entrepreneurship in
agriculture can immensely benefit the Indian economy by creating jobs in areas
where they are needed the most.
Addressing the second Annual Convocation of Dr Rajendra
Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa at its Piprakothi Campus (East
Champaran) in Bihar today, the Vice President said that the Farmer Producer
Organizations (FPOs) can immensely help small and marginal farmers with forward
(processing, marketing and export) and backward (input and extension services)
linkages in the Food Supply Chains. Therefore, he emphasised the need to
promote FPOs through handholding and capacity building, and appreciated the
University for initiating training programmes in this regard. Reiterating that
there is a lot of scope for food processing in India, he urged the Universities
to encourage farmers in their respective region to form collectives.
Observing that Indian agriculture is
characterized by marginal and small farmers with fewer resources, Naidu
highlighted the need for increasing the farmers’ income through various
sources, including improved resource use efficiency. Calling for greater use of
technology in food management to ensure food security for all, he said “The
developed world is already reaping benefits from the use of Artificial
Intelligence in agriculture and India too must harness its potential to help
improve farm income.” In this regard, the Vice President asked Dr Rajendra
Prasad Central Agricultural University to work on the Impact Assessment of
Technologies and also evaluate alternative farming techniques and their
sustainability.
Lauding the farmers for record foodgrain production
despite the challenges thrown by COVID-19 pandemic, Naidu said that our country
owes a lot to our hardworking farmers and frontline Corona warriors. Stressing
that “agriculture is our basic culture,” he urged the Centre and State
governments, public leaders, universities and research institutions, and the
media to give more importance to agriculture. “We must see that the agri-sector
is given all the support that is needed for development and sustenance of
agriculture,” he said.
Congratulating all the students who graduated
today, the Vice President asked them to strive to excel in their chosen domain
and contribute towards the growth and development of the country. On this
occasion, he also praised Radha Mohan Singh, Member of Parliament and the
former Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, for his efforts in
establishing several farmer-centric institutes at Piprakothi, Champaran. “I am
confident that all these institutes and centres will play a crucial role in
alleviating the problems of small and marginal farmers of the region,” Naidu
added.
Referring to the stellar performance of the
agriculture sector despite challenges thrown by COVID-19, the Vice President
said that this was the first time since 2013-14 that agriculture regained this
economic prominence. Terming agriculture as one of the main pillars of the
Indian economy, he exhorted the young agri-professionals to work for the
development of this crucial sector.
Noting that the university is continuously
evolving its research and pedagogy, the Vice President appreciated it for
introducing courses in contemporary disciplines such as Agricultural
Journalism, Agro-Tourism Management and also for establishing a Start-Up
Incubation Centre to help students start their own business enterprises. “Agro-based
tourism which will boost farm economy and will also act as a detox therapy for
urban tourists by letting them experience the natural beauty of the place,
ethnic food, unique flora and fauna,” he added.
Stressing that India’s growth strategy is focused on
sustainable development, Naidu praised the University for its innovative
‘Sukhet Model’ aimed at creating a circular economy/bio-economy in the village
and establishing a self-reliant village. He also complimented the university
for coming up with slew of technologies suitable for migrant labourers,
including women and for training them under PM Kisan Kalyan Yojna. In his
address, Naidu also advised the students to spend half of their time in
classrooms/labs and remaining half in the fields with farmers to understand
their problems and find solutions for the same.
Mentioning several other initiatives by the
University for the welfare of the farming community, the Vice President
expressed his happiness that the new knowledge created in the laboratories is
being transferred to Covid through a strong network of 18 Krishi Vigyan Kendras.
Recalling Mahatma Gandhi's historic Champaran
Satyagraha movement in support of farmers, Naidu said that he felt privileged
and honoured to stand on that pious soil. “Champaran is also the land that gave
Mahatma Gandhi Ji the name that he loved the most, Bapu,” he added.
Reminding the students that Bihar is the land of great
personalities like Dr Rajendra Prasad, Jai Prakash Narayan and Karpuri Thakur,
the Vice President asked them to take inspiration from their lives and high
moral standards they followed. “We are witnessing a fall in the standards in
every walk of life today, be it politics, legislatures, local bodies or even
educational institutions. This fall needs to be arrested because these
persons/institutions provide leadership to our country,” Naidu said. In this
regard, he also stressed the need to mould public opinion in such a way so that
people select and elect their representatives based on four Cs, namely –
character, calibre, capacity and conduct.
Stating that with institutions like Nalanda, Bihar was
“the knowledge centre of the world,” Naidu called for regaining that past glory
and to make it a knowledge and innovation hub again.
On this occasion, the Vice President also inaugurated the
Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya College of Horticulture & Forestry (its
administrative building and two hostels for the girls and boys), Centre of
Excellence on Embryo Transfer Technology and Indigenous Cattle Breeds –
Conservation and Improvement Centre. He also paid floral tribute at the statue
of former Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the University
campus.
The Governor of Bihar, Phagu Chauhan, the Chief Minister,
Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister, Renu
Devi, Agriculture Minister of Bihar, Amarendra Pratap Singh, Member of
Parliament, Radhamohan Singh, Chancellor of Dr Rajendra Prasad Central
Agricultural University, Prafulla Kumar Mishra, Vice-Chancellor, Dr RC
Srivastava, Secretary, DARE & DG, ICAR, Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, faculty and
students were among those who attended the event.