Agricultural institutes should lead next farm revolution: President

Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), June 27 (IANS) President Pranab Mukherjee Friday called on "committed, capable and hard-working" professionals of the country's agricultural institutes to lead the next farm revolution.

"We require committed, capable and hardworking professionals from our agricultural institutions to spearhead the next farm revolution," Mukherjee said at the golden jubilee convocation of the Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya here.

Agricultural universities have a "huge stake" in the success of the farm sector, he said, adding that the "yardstick of their performance" is the quality of graduates being produced.

He opined that the quality of agricultural universities have degraded over the time.

"Agriculture was taught in the world-renowned universities of Takshila and Nalanda. Yet, over the years we have not been able to maintain our position. Global recognition eludes our agricultural universities today," Mukherjee said.

He, however, lauded the efforts of agricultural scientists and farmers for making India the world's fourth largest agricultural sector.

"It is to the credit of our agricultural scientists and farmers that India transformed itself from being a net importer of food grains in the 1960s to being self-sufficient and an exporter," Mukherjee said.