Annual Conference of Vice-Chancellors of State Agricultural Universities organized
13 April 2022, New Delhi: “There is a need to have a solid mechanization for having the desired results in the fields of agriculture and allied science”, said Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR). Dr. Mohapatra was addressing the inaugural session of the “Annual Conference of Vice-Chancellors of State Agricultural Universities – 2022” organized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi here at National Agricultural Science Complex Centre, New Delhi from 12th to 13th April, 2022.
The Director General stressed on the power of togetherness for strengthening the country’s progress in the agricultural and other sectors. “Now, is the time to critically examine or analyze our relevance in the agricultural sector’s progress in the country and reposition ourselves”, accentuated the DG. Dr. Mohapatra urged the agricultural scientists to look for the ways for making the agricultural industry more relevant. The need for developing the sense of competition among the scientists and young students to achieve more laurels in their lives was regarded as the key to success by the Director General.
“The paradigm and landscape of the agricultural education in the country has undergone a significant change in the last 60 to 70 Years”, emphasized Shri Sanjay Garg, Additional Secretary (DARE) & Secretary (ICAR). Shri Garg accentuated on the establishment of the Agricultural University in Pantnagar in 1960 that paved the way for the establishment of the other Agricultural Universities in the country. Regarding the agricultural as the backbone of the Indian economy, Shri Garg emphasized on agricultural education as the bone marrow to strengthen it. The need for robust and vibrant agricultural education to help in sustaining the agricultural sector of the country was underlined by Shri Garg.
Shri Sanjiv Kumar, Additional Secretary (DARE) & Financial Advisor (ICAR) emphasized on promoting the Start-Ups more in the country. Maintaining the good quality of contents on ICAR’s YouTube Page was stressed by Shri Kumar.
Prof. (Dr.) Anil Kumar Srivastava, Chairman, Agricultural Scientists’ Recruitment Board, New Delhi applauded the ICAR’s Scientists’ efforts that have led the country to be self-sufficient in the food crops. The unconditional support provided by the agricultural experts of ICAR during the challenging times of COVID-19 Pandemic period was also underlined by him.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. R.K. Mittal, President Indian Agricultural Universities Association & Vice-Chancellor, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh also deliberated during the occasion.
Earlier, delivering the welcome address, Dr. R.C. Agrawal, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Education), ICAR outlined the main objectives of the Conference. The major achievements made by the various ICAR Institutes in the varied arenas of agricultural sciences were also underlined in Dr. Agrawal’s address.
The Dignitaries also released the various ICAR Publications on the occasion.
The Vice-Chancellors of State Agricultural Universities; Deputy Directors General of ICAR; Senior Officials of ICAR and NAHEP along with the Heads of Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Agricultural Scientists participated in the Conference.