PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Pantnagar
The 119th All India Kisan Mela concluded at the GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT) here on Monday. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, former Maharashtra and Goa governor and ex chief minister of Uttarakhand, Bhagat Singh Koshyari said that the role of both farmers and scientists is equally important in the nation’s progress. India has been progressing since ancient times, facing many challenges, and today it is emerging as a new power in the world. India is rapidly moving towards becoming the third largest economic power in the world. He said, “Our tradition has been based on the knowledge of sages and the hard work of farmers. Scientists, students, and researchers should continue working to disseminate their knowledge and research to farmers,” he said.
Koshyari said that real success for the university will come when farmers learn more from it and adopt new technologies in their fields, increasing their income and produce. He noted that the global demand for coarse grains is rapidly increasing. In the past, they were considered the food of the poor, but today, due to their immense health benefits, their demand has increased both domestically and internationally. He stressed on the need to focus on the production of these crops and the development of modern technologies. He expressed confidence that the knowledge, research, and innovations generated by the university will play a vital role in bringing positive changes in the lives of farmers.
He urged scientists to ensure that the results of research are visible in the fields and that their direct benefits should reach farmers and rural communities. He also emphasised on the need to promote natural farming, stating that adopting environmentally friendly agricultural practices is the need of the hour. Koshyari also appealed to the farmers to adopt new technologies and scientific methods, saying that the State and nation will become self-reliant only when farmers progress.
University vice chancellor Manmohan Singh Chauhan said that GBPUAT is consistently striving to provide farmers with information on new technologies and improved crop varieties. He explained that the improved seeds, modern agricultural equipment, animal husbandry techniques and agriculture-based innovations developed by the university’s scientists are proving beneficial to farmers.
The university is also working to promote agricultural mechanisation, dairy, fisheries, horticulture, mushroom production and organic farming. He added that the agricultural sector is facing challenges such as climate change, requiring farmers to adopt scientific farming and new technologies. University scientists are providing guidance to farmers to address these challenges through seminars and training programmes.
