Assam Guv urges AAU to innovate and retain students in agriculture sector

The Governor of Assam, Jagdish Mukhi, has asked the Assam Agricultural University propose an industrial model allowing students to stay in agriculture so that they become job providers and not job seekers.

He attended the 22nd convocation of Assam Agricultural University held at the Jorhat University campus today which saw the graduation of 1601 students.

The Governor, Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, who is also the Chancellor of the University, addressing the graduates said: “The success of education lies in its fruits remaining attached to the root of society so that they can guide our society towards righteousness. The progress of any society in terms of economic upgrading, education and a better way of life should not mean that we detach ourselves from our roots”. He therefore urged Assam Agricultural University to be at the forefront in using education as a tool for social empowerment.

The Governor further stated that Assam Agricultural University must play an important role in addressing the emerging and upcoming challenges facing the agricultural sector. This university must go the extra mile to achieve the stated goal of doubling farmers’ incomes.

“The North East region holds the hidden opportunity to even triple food production and usher in an evergreen revolution through the organic mode of food production. The Organic Value Chain Development Mission for the North Region -East, a National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) sub-mission is already in place to further this goal,” he said.

Regarding the agricultural sector, where a growing trend has been observed among young people to move from agriculture to the service sector, the Governor said that the Assam Agricultural University should take responsibility for transforming the agricultural sector into a very attractive. He said: “You need a service sector, but what if adequate production of food grains does not occur. If we don’t produce enough to feed ourselves, what will happen to us? Therefore, it is our primary duty to transform the agricultural sector into a highly attractive sector. I am glad that ICAR started working in this direction and came up with the project – ARYA (Attracting and retaining young people in agriculture), which tries to ensure Production, Profitability and Permanence”.

The governor said Assam Agricultural University will have to come up with an industrial model for students to stay in agriculture so that they become job providers and not job seekers.

He also said that the central government had recently taken several bold steps to support the country’s farmers, including agricultural credits. The highly ambitious project by the name of “Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)” is proving to be a game changer. So far, the government has transferred over Rs 1 lakh crore under this scheme .

The Governor further said that India had recently added a feather to its track record of scientific achievement. In the field of agro-technology, there has recently been a big leap in the form of the introduction of nano-urea by IFFCO for general use in agricultural fields. The innovation highlighted the country’s ability to develop and produce agricultural inputs locally under ‘Atmanirvar Bharat’ and ‘Atmanirvar Krishi’.

The Governor further stated that Assam Agricultural University must play an important role in addressing the emerging and upcoming challenges facing the agricultural sector. This university must go the extra mile to achieve the stated goal of doubling farmers’ incomes. The North East region holds the hidden opportunity to even triple food production and usher in an evergreen revolution through organic food production. The Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region Mission, a sub-mission National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) is already in place to push this goal.

Professor Mukhi also called the graduates and asked them to use their mental energies and physical fitness and work for social transformation.

He also urged them to be more focused on their goals, resolute in their ideas and committed to their mission.