Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, May 7: “Students here have potential to shape the future of agriculture in this country in a manner that ‘food for all and forever’ becomes a reality,” said Madappa Mahadevappa, the former chairman of the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board who is renowned for developing high-yielding hybrid varieties of rice, at the 34th convocation ceremony of Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT).
“Being an educationist, it gives me immense pleasure to know that highest number of students from College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology qualified for GATE examination 2015,” said Mahadevappa, the former vice-chancellor of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, at the ceremony here Thursday where he was the chief guest.
“I would like our students graduating today to remember that they are now among society’s most privileged citizens. Your education has been supported by the entire society and that society will now be counting upon you,” said Governor SC Jamir, who is the chancellor of OUAT.
The Governor conferred honoris causa on Mahadevappa and Robert Stewart Zeigler, the chief executive officer of the International Rice Research Institute, Philippines, for their lifetime contribution to agricultural science.
Jamir also awarded 211 gold medals to those who passed out in 2013 and 2014 and 22 doctor of philosophy (PhD) degrees for academic excellence in the field of agriculture.
Pro-Chancellor Pradeep Maharathy said that under a challenging scenario, continuous updates of technical know-how and their effective transfer to farmers’ fields by agricultural scientists and extension officials of our state has led to an increase in crop production. This has resulted in the state receiving the Krishi Karman Award from the Centre for the last three years, he said.
