A two-day international seminar on the topic “The journey of rural development from independence to Amritkal to strengthen agriculture and rural economy” was organized at Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour today on 13.06.2024 by the Honorable Governor-cum-Chancellor Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. This international seminar is being jointly organized by Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour and Excellent Vision Foundation (EVF). Technical sessions are being organized in this seminar. In which experts from the country and abroad are brainstorming on the related subject, as well as presentations are being given. Apart from the chief guest in the program, Honorable Agriculture Minister of Bihar Government, Shri Mangal Pandey joined through video conferencing and also addressed the gathering. Well-known social worker of Bihar, Shri Ramashish Singh addressed as the keynote speaker. Along with this, former Deputy Director General of Agricultural Research Council, New Delhi, Dr. H.P. Singh, Director of Kansas State University, Dr. P.B. Bara Prasad, Professor Rajnarayan Yadav of Mathematics Department of Tribhuvan University and other guests were welcomed by the Honorable Vice Chancellor, Dr. D.R. Singh. In this program, all the Directors, Deans and Scientists of the University including the Program Coordinator, Dr. Ajay Kumar Sah and Organizing Secretary, Dr. Avinash Kumar were present.
The program was started by lighting the lamp. In his presidential address, Honorable Vice Chancellor, Dr. D.R. Singh said that “After independence, we were dependent on other countries for food, but after the Green Revolution and the establishment of agricultural universities in the country, due to the hard work of farmers and scientists, today we have reached a position where we are supplying food to other countries.” The Honorable Vice Chancellor emphasized that we have achieved unexpected success in the agriculture sector but there is still a need to strengthen the rural economy further, which is aimed to be fully strengthened by the 100th year of independence, 2047, i.e. Amritkaal. In his address as the chief guest, the Honorable Governor underlined the indiscriminate use of chemicals in agriculture and its ill effects and said that its direct impact is in the form of low income of farmers. He said that if we talk about doubling the income of farmers and villagers, then first we will have to turn towards natural farming. The Honorable Governor called urbanization unnecessary for strengthening the rural economy. He said that there is no need to make our villages cities. Rather, it is important that our villages are as they were. But there should be basic facilities in the village. It has to be ensured that every villager gets employment there. Only then will the wealth of the villagers and the prosperity of the village increase. He said that our expectation from this international seminar is that all these points should be discussed. In his address, renowned social worker Shri Ramashish Singh said that the division of villages and cities was done by the British. Villages were economically, socially and culturally prosperous for centuries. But due to faulty policies adopted over time, we started looking only towards cities for development. Today we have to save the environment of the country and save the rural system.
Dr. P.B. Bara Prasad, Director, Kansas University, USA, while referring to the agriculturally rich land of Bihar, outlined the main points to make the rural economy prosperous.
Professor Dr. Rajnarayan Yadav of Tribhuvan University, Nepal said that Bihar and Nepal have a relationship of roti-beti. Therefore, if the villages of Bihar prosper, then definitely Nepal will also prosper.
Dr. H.P. Singh, former Deputy Director General of Agricultural Research Council, New Delhi, said that Bihar is a pilgrimage place of agriculture. The Honorable Agriculture Minister of Bihar addressed the gathering by joining virtually and said that the Bihar government has made an agriculture roadmap and other such policies. Due to which the rural areas of Bihar are developing in all directions.
*Received Life Time Achievement Award*
Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Dr. D. R. Singh was honored with the Life Time Achievement Award by the Hon’ble Governor for his incomparable work in the field of agriculture.
Dr. P. B. Bara Prasad, Director, Kansas University, USA was honored with the Life Time Achievement Award by the Hon’ble Governor for his excellent work as the Director of Feed the Future Innovation Lab in Crop Physiology.
Professor Dr. Rajnarayan Yadav of Tribhuvan University, Nepal was honored with the Life Time Achievement Award by the Hon’ble Governor for his excellent work.
*Hon’ble Governor observed the Krishi Gyan Vahan:*
The Hon’ble Governor observed the Krishi Gyan Vahan operated by Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour and took stock of the work being done by this vehicle in the interest of farmers such as soil testing, animal husbandry and other agricultural extension activities.
*Hon’ble Governor inaugurated Senate Hall and Art Gallery:*
Hon’ble Governor inaugurated Senate Hall and Art Gallery at Bihar Agricultural University. In the art gallery, folk art of Bihar has been depicted in Madhubani and Angika paintings by the artists of the university.
Teachers, students, entrepreneurs and farmers from four countries, ten states of the country and six universities participated in this international seminar.
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