Pantvarsity hosts 2-day Alumni Meet to push research and innovation
Garhwal Post Bureau
Pantnagar, 26 Jun: A two-day Alumni Meet at Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT), Pantnagar, was inaugurated here today by Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, and State Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi. Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr SK Kashyap welcomed the dignitaries and the participants.
Addressing the gathering on this occasion, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said he felt blessed to visit the sacred land of Pantnagar, which was the cradle of India’s Green Revolution. He described GBPUAT as a glorious institution in the history of Indian agriculture, which has produced eminent scientists, policymakers, agricultural entrepreneurs and highly skilled human resources who have provided new direction to the country’s agriculture and rural economy. Chouhan asserted that under the guidance of the Prime Minister and the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Uttarakhand is progressing towards becoming not only the spiritual capital of India but also of the world.
Describing Pantnagar University (GBPUAT) as a confluence of tradition, modernity and research, Chouhan said India is today producing nearly 377 million tonnes of foodgrains. He noted that the country’s granaries are overflowing, while India has overtaken China to become the world’s largest producer of rice. He added that wheat production has also reached surplus levels and global demand for Indian wheat and Basmati rice is also steadily increasing. He said Pantnagar University’s contribution to these achievements was unparalleled and that he repeatedly bows in respect to this sacred institution.
The Union Minister added that it is essential for an Agriculture Minister to remain connected with the grassroots and that he was fortunate to interact with the students and the experts at Pantnagar. He remarked that he had not merely interacted with students but with the future of Indian agriculture. Expressing confidence, he said the students graduating from the university would continue to bring laurels to India across the world.
Chouhan said he had come to Pantnagar not to teach but to learn. He observed that the university had not merely conferred degrees but also produced scientists, policymakers, industry leaders and agricultural entrepreneurs who have played a significant role in strengthening Indian agriculture and the rural economy.
Referring to the challenges confronting Indian agriculture, Chouhan said climate change, rising temperatures, depleting groundwater, changing weather patterns, deteriorating soil health and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers were major concerns. He stressed that these issues could only be addressed through scientific research and innovation. While India has set new benchmarks in agricultural production, he said agricultural scientists and universities would also have to play a decisive role in finding solutions to the future challenges.
The Union Minister further said that all the international agreements relating to agricultural products entered into under the leadership of the Prime Minister have placed the interests of farmers and the nation above everything else. He reiterated that the vision of a developed India can only be realised when agriculture flourished and farmers become prosperous.
Emphasising on environmental conservation, Chouhan said he plants one sapling every day. He appealed to everyone that, if planting a sapling daily is not possible, they should at least plant one on their birthday, as protecting the environment was the need of the hour.
Addressing the gathering on this occasion, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stressed upon the need to preserve traditional crops while promoting the production of fruits and diversified agricultural products. He also called for the formation of a committee comprising alumni and the experts of the university to suggest practical solutions to agricultural production-related challenges so that these recommendations can be considered seriously.
Addressing the alumni workshop, titled “BRAIN 3.0 (Boosting Research, Academic, Innovation and Networking)”, the CM said alumni of universities have a crucial role to play in building a developed Uttarakhand. He urged them to connect their knowledge, experience and expertise with the state’s development by making active contributions in agriculture, research, innovation, start-ups and youth mentorship.
Dhami said Pantnagar University is not merely an educational institution but is one of the most significant centres of India’s Green Revolution. He noted that the university has produced scientists, administrators, entrepreneurs and agricultural experts who established distinguished identities at both national and international levels. He described BRAIN 3.0 as not merely a workshop but an effective platform that connected knowledge, experience, innovation and future possibilities.
The CM also observed that the true identity of any institution is determined not by its buildings but by the achievements of its students. Alumni, he said, represented the greatest strength of the university and the strongest ambassadors of its glorious traditions. While success in life is important, he added, sharing that success and experience with society and future generations is even more significant.
Dhami urged the alumni to launch mentorship programmes for the young people, support research initiatives, promote innovation and start-up culture and act as a strong bridge between academia and industry. He said today’s youth are not merely job seekers but leaders of change through innovation and entrepreneurship. In such a scenario, the guidance of experienced alumni can provide new direction and greater opportunities for young minds.
Dhami observed that the present era belongs to Artificial Intelligence (AI), drone technology, data analytics, biotechnology and digital agriculture. Universities and their alumni, he said, would have to make their roles more effective in keeping pace with these rapidly evolving technologies.
The CM conceded that Uttarakhand’s hill agriculture continues to face numerous challenges, including small and fragmented landholdings, crop damage caused by wild animals, migration of youth, limited market access and climate change. These issues, he said, can’t be resolved through government schemes alone but they require knowledge, research, innovation and collective participation. He appealed to the alumni to guide the farmers and theyouth in modern agricultural technologies, organic and natural farming, agricultural processing, value addition, digital marketing and agri-entrepreneurship.
Dhami said that, under the leadership of the PM, Uttarakhand is making rapid progress towards balanced and holistic development. The State Government’s objective, he said, is not merely economic growth but inclusive development in which villages, the poor, farmers, women and the youth can participate equally. He added that through its new Start-up Policy, skill development programmes and innovation-driven initiatives, the government is creating new opportunities for young people. Agriculture, horticulture, food processing, organic farming, drone technology and agriculture-based start-ups, he said, offered immense potential. He encouraged the youth to develop innovative solutions to local problems and take them to global platforms.
Dhami asserted that the state government is continuously working towards building a developed Uttarakhand with the mantra of “Vikalp Rahit Sankalp”. He expressed confidence that Pantnagar University and its alumni would significantly accelerate this mission. He urged the alumni not to view Uttarakhand merely as their birthplace or workplace but also as their responsibility and he appealed to them to dedicate a part of their knowledge and experience to the state’s development, irrespective of where they were serving.
Expressing confidence in the university’s alumni fraternity, the CM said it would continue to play an important role in the development of the university, Uttarakhand and the nation in the years ahead.
Earlier, Chouhan and Dhami also visited the Pantnagar Museum and the stalls put up by women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs). They also interacted with the students of the university and participated in paddy transplantation with them. Chouhan also planted a sapling in the university campus.
Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi welcomed the dignitaries and alumni to Pantnagar University, describing it as the birthplace of the Green Revolution. He said that although the state’s agricultural land has reduced after the formation of Uttarakhand, agricultural production has increased by nearly three lakh tonnes. He said the state is witnessing all-round development under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and requested that Pantnagar University be declared a Heritage University.
Among those present were Nainital MP Ajay Bhatt, MLAs Shiv Arora, Trilok Singh Cheema and Banshidhar Bhagat, Anil Kapoor Dabbu, Hukam Singh Kunwar, Ranjit Singh Namdhari, Secretary Dr SN Pandey, District Magistrate Nitin Singh Bhadauria, Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Ganpati, Registrar of the university Deepa Vinay, along with several officials and alumni.
