By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Pantnagar, 27 Nov: At the 36th Convocation Ceremony of Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Governor Lt General Gurmit Singh (Retd) attended as the Chief Guest and presented degrees and medals to the graduating students.
Also present were Ganesh Joshi, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and Ajay Tamta, Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, as distinguished guests. On this occasion, CDS General Anil Chauhan and Padma Shri awardee Prem Chandra Sharma were awarded the honorary degree of ‘Vigyan Varidhi’.
Governor and Chancellor Gurmit Singh emphasised that students receiving their degrees should seek blessings from their parents. He praised the university for its contribution to the development of new research and technologies that help farmers increase their income. He highlighted the promotion of honey, aroma, and millet crops.
The Governor stated that Pantnagar University has made exceptional contributions to the agricultural sector over the past six decades, playing a pivotal role in India’s development. The institution continues to set new benchmarks in agricultural innovation, sustainable development, and food security.
He urged the graduates to dedicate themselves to improving farmers’ lives, promoting sustainable development, and advancing India on the global stage. He pointed out Pantnagar University’s significant role in the Green Revolution and its recognition through various awards and top rankings. He also stressed the need for the university to conduct research in line with the changing environment to improve the lives of farmers.
Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Ajay Tamta congratulated the university on the successful convocation ceremony and encouraged scientists to focus on research and dissemination of knowledge tailored to the changing environment. He noted that alumni from the university are excelling in positions both in India and abroad.
Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi congratulated the students, their families, and teachers for their achievements. He mentioned the ongoing efforts to involve 8,000 farmers in beekeeping and emphasizsed the state’s goal of increasing organic farming to more than 50% by 2025. He also stressed the importance of promoting millets and advocated for subsidies on coarse grains like manduwa.
CDS General Anil Chauhan expressed his pleasure at attending the convocation and discussed the university’s achievements. He emphasised the importance of “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan, and Jai Anusandhan” in advancing the country. He noted that new research and technologies, such as genetic modification, are crucial for overcoming environmental challenges and ensuring food security.
Padma Shri awardee Prem Chandra Sharma shared his experiences and advocated for organic and natural farming to purify the environment.
Vice-Chancellor Dr Manmohan Singh Chauhan highlighted the university’s achievements, stating that it was established with technical support from the University of Illinois under the Land Grant Pattern. The university has contributed significantly to food security, livestock, dairy, oilseeds, and fisheries production. It has been awarded the ‘Sardar Patel Outstanding Institution Award’ three times by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Internationally, it ranks 331st in the QS World University Rankings. Since its establishment, the university has awarded degrees to 44,112 students.
Dr Chauhan also noted that the university has developed 355 advanced varieties of crops and two breeds of livestock, which have greatly contributed to food security and increased farmers’ income. Pantnagar University has been honoured with the Agriculture Leadership 2023 Award. The National Education Policy 2020 is being implemented at the university from 2024-25, making it the first agricultural university in the country to adopt this policy. The university has formed partnerships with prestigious national and international institutions, and in the past two years, it has developed 10 varieties of pulses. Finally, he administered the convocation oaths to all the degree recipients. On this occasion, the book titled ‘Achievements of the University in the Last Two Years,’ compiled under the Vice-Chancellor’s direction, was also released by the guests.
