Chief Secretary Himachal, B.K.Agarwal asks farm varsities to help farmers in doubling their income

Dharamshala, June 28, 2919: Mr.B.K.Agarwal, Chief Secretary, Govervnement of H.P, said that innovative solutions should be devised to improve farm education and asked farm universities to think about, doubling the income of farming community. The Chief Secretary was addressing Vice-Chancellors after inaugurating ‘Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Model Act Revision’ at CSK Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University,at Palampur near here today. The event has been jointly organised by the University and Indian Agricultural Universities Association (IAUA). Agarwal said, “problem of hunger has been solved by farm universities but new challenges have emerged, like Decreasing productivity, increasing input cost, farmers’ distress, environment degradation due to excessive use of chemicals, depleting water table, etc. are the major issues which need immediate attention.” Agarwal said that farm education should be reoriented as graduates need to serve the farmers, especially needy and poor farmers. The Chief Secretary advised that farm students should spend adequate time with farmers to gain practical knowledge and enhance their skills. He informed, "Government of Himachal is advocating zero budget natural farming.” Dr.A.R.Pathak, President, IAUA and Vice-Chancellor, Junagarh Agriculture University, Junagarh said, “Common syllabus and rules among all farm universities is necessary to improve quality of education. All state governments should adopt ICAR Model Act to maintain uniformity in quality of education and uniformity in the administrative set-up.” He also advocated increasing the tenure of Vice-Chancellor from three years to five years. Dr.Pathak advised that all farm universities should provide the farmers with holistic technologies Dr.S.K.Patil, Secretary General, IAUA and Vice-Chancellor, Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur said that no country can survive without food and there is a need to increase food production continuously. Dr.N.C.Patel, former President IAUA and Vice-Chancellor, Anand Agriculture University, Anand briefed that IAUA is co-ordinating with various organisations to improve farm education in the country. He said that Vice-Chancellors should help state governments in formulating agricultural policies. Prof Ashok Kumar Sarial, Vice-Chancellor of the host University told that the event is being held for the first time in the University since its inception. He underlined the need to make the ICAR Acts more appropriate, effective and useful for the improvement of teaching, extension and research in the farm universities. Prof Sarial also elaborated major achievements of Himachal Agriculture university in helping the state to become self sufficient on food front. Besides twenty five Vice-Chancellors; Dr. S.S. Chahal, Chairman, ICAR Model Act Revision Committee; Dr.V.S.Tomar, Member, ICAR Model Act Committee, Dr.A.K.Shrivastva, Member, Agricultural Scientist Recruitment Board; Mr Rakesh Prajapati, Deputy Commissioner Kangra, University Statutory Officers, Officers from ICAR and Dr Ashwani Basandrai, Organizing Secretary were also present during the inaugural ceremony of this two days seminar of VCs of Agriculture universities of India on ICAR Model Act Revision’ at CSK Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University,at Palampur near Dharamshala , Himachal Pradesh.