Dr.Thomas (Special Correspondent)
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Agricultural universities play a vital role in increasing food production to cater the growing population
Agricultural universities should work on Lab to Land-Land to Lab concept:
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that agricultural universities play a vital role in increasing food production to cater the needs of growing population.
He was speaking at the inauguration programme of the new building of Baking Technology and Value Addition Institute and DAESI Sammelana organized by Unisversity of Agricultural Sciences,Bangalore.
The CM said that, after the Green Revolution, our country achieved self-reliance in food production.
There was dependency before that Renowned agriculturist Swaminathan who has passed away recently had contributed a lot to the green revolution.
He also said that the study and research of agricultural universities should be increased to become qualitative and to boost food production and become qualitative.
Ours is the state with the largest amount of dry agricultural land.
Due to the climate change, the state is continuously suffering from excessive rains and droughts.It is for this reason that, help of agricultural experts and technicians is essential for our farmers,the CM opined.
The Chief Minister said that agricultural universities should do more research.Research findings should reach the farmers effectively.
Extensive studies and researches should be done about the kind of crops that can be grown in less rain and less water and ways to prevent crop damage due to extreme weather conditions should reach the farmers.
Lab to Land-Land to Lab :
The CM said that what findings of laboratories has reached agricultural land should be known and labs should know about the experiences and needs of the agricultural land .
Only then sustainable agriculture is possible.This can be made possible if agricultural universities adopt its scientific works on the basis of Lab to Land-Land to Lab concept .
The CM instructed to check whether the new varieties developed by agricultural universities have reached the farmers and also asked that what is the use of developing new breeds if it is not reached the farmers ?
He also assured that the government will give full cooperation to the research-study and extension programmes.
This program was jointly organized by Agriculture University, National Agricultural Extension Institute and Department of Agriculture which was presided over by MLA and Revenue Minister,Krishnabyre Gowda. Agriculture Minister N.Chaluvarayaswamy,MLA Sharath Bachegowda,Chancellor of Agriculture University Dr.SV Suresh and others were present.
