By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 26 Feb: Governor Lt-General Gurmit Singh (Retd) virtually addressed the 113th All India Kisan Fair and Agriculture Exhibition of Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, from the Raj Bhavan, here, on Sunday. On the occasion, he also released a booklet of the university, “Millets: Importance in Food and Nutritional Security”. The Governor also interacted virtually with the women of self-help groups who had come to the Kisan Mela and Exhibition.
In his address, the Governor said the university should launch another revolution in the field of agriculture, so that the income of every farmer of Uttarakhand as well as the country increases and they become happy and prosperous. He recalled that the University had played a major role in the field of agricultural education, research and development since its inception. Describing the climate of Uttarakhand as very favorable for various types of medicinal and aromatic plants and other crops, with the production of which, small and medium farmers could increase their income. There were enough options, only decisive action was needed.
Lt-General Singh underlined that this year is very important from the point of view of agriculture, with the United Nations having declared this year as International Year of Millets. Millets, known also as coarse grains, are major crops in India and, now, given added importance as ‘Shree Anna’. Shree Anna is being promoted not only for the benefit of small farmers, but also to encourage start-ups in this sector. The university could guide the country and the state in this direction.
He emphasised that the country is exporting many types of agricultural products, including food grains. Many decisions are being taken continuously by the governments to encourage the agriculture sector, so that the nation can become ‘self-reliant’ and the money used for imports can reach the farmers. “Today’s India is a young India, so we have to increase the participation of youth in the agriculture sector,” he declared. “The youth should work as a bridge between the government and the farmer through their innovations.”
Lt General Singh acknowledged that the technology developed by the university through Krishi Vigyan Kendras is being taken to the farmers of remote areas. These centres are continuously playing a vital role in connecting many farmers to the mainstream of development and increasing their income through training, front line demonstrations and other extension programmes. He expressed the hope that Pantnagar University would continue playing an active role in increasing the income of the farmers of Uttarakhand, especially in the hilly areas, preventing migration by conducting research and extension activities according to the characteristics and needs of the state.
