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The Union Agriculture Minister Shri Sharad Pawar called for re-organisation in the research institutions with a futuristic vision to meet global demands. The Minister was speaking as chief guest at the 43rd Convocation of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), here today. The agricultural research institutions should identify priorities and work on them, he said. Monitoring the research process and taking tough line on non-performing scientists, the Minister opined, would yield accountability and credibility to the institutions.
Shri Pawar expressed concern over the growing unemployment among agricultural graduates. IARI and state agricultural universities should take this as challenge, he said. He stressed on equipping the agricultural graduates with domestic and global trends, to make them competitive in the market. The Minister called for a system where agri-graduates could earn a livelihood while disseminating their expertise. Introduction of capsule courses would meet certain demands of the market, he said.
The Minister said scientists should focus on improving qualitative but cost effective agricultural produces by synergising various technologies keeping in view the depleting environment. The scientists should focus on global market demands and required to follow it up with a research effort. Scientists should come out with viable and quick solutions to challenges thrown by nature too, like tsunami, which devastated large stretch of coastal agricultural land, he said.
Certain important pulses and coarse cereals demand due attention from the research fraternity, the Minister said. Research in these areas would directly help the poor and marginal farmers. There is need to focus research efforts to develop varieties of horticultural crops where the yield is less prone to post harvest losses. Where the loss is to the tune of Rs. 67,500 crore per year, he said.
Dr. S. Nagarajan, Director, IARI, highlighted the achievements of the institute during the last one-year in his report in the convocation. He said several varieties of various crops were released for cultivation during this period. Shri Pawar presented research degrees to the scientists and agri-graduates. He also presented Doctor of Science Degree to Dr. Hari Kishan Jain and Prof. Verendra Lal Chopra from the institute on this occasion.
SB: RC: 2005-02-11-iari-convocation
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