By Bijoy PTC Handique

Jorhat: Assam economy is mainly agrarian and to improve the overall agricultural development of the state shifting of focus from rice centric to rice based multi-cropping system needs to be practice extensively for which extension and research activities should be addressed for emerging issue and skill up gradation for our farmers has to be strengthen, so scientific soil test based land use planning will definitely ensure to double the farmers income of our marginal farmers, so I acknowledge the sincerer effort of our scientist, officers towards doubling the farmers income by 2022 and appreciate AAU’s endeavour in achieving common mission , said Prof Jagadish Mukhi, His Excellency  the Governor of Assam and Chancellor of Assam Agricultural University during his 21 st  AAU Convocation  address that was held at the Assam Agricultural University here today.

 

 

Prof Mukhi congratulated all the graduating students present who were receiving their well deserve degrees and awards were asked to excel the agricultural sector with much greater speed and velocity  as they will soon become the Ambassador of this growth momentum and should be job creator rather than job seeker. Sector like agriculture has immense potential of creating jobs and you should take the advantage and play the role of catalyst to create jobs which to have garnered from this premier institute which will go a long way to empower you guide the agriculture sector in the right direction. I am very happy to know in the last 7 to 8 years this university has recorded enviable growth in all sphere right from teaching, research, extension services, infra-structure and human resource development and I have full confidents in the dynamic leadership of the vice chancellor and his team which has brought about these positive changes to benefit the farming community of the state which is 68% of its total population and the university has the state of art facilities to compete globally and for that reason the university has a number of joint international collaborative program with foreign countries like UK, Australia, USA, Italy, France, Germany, Kenya, Nepal, Finland, while on the other hand 20 students from 10 countries are now pursuing their studies in this university, the Chancellor of AAU further said.

 

 

Sarbananda Sonowal, the Chief Minister of Assam during his Convocation address firstly congratulated recipients of Doctor of Science and other degree holders and the university for performing very well in the academic field, receiving awards, recognition in various seminars and symposiums, in the country and abroad . The state government has also taken up exhaustive plans to convert the state agricultural sector to organic agriculture. As Organic Agriculture will create lot of job avenues in the form of bio-inputs production and marketing, in addition to handling and processing of marketing of food products and I am happy to inform you that fructifying endeavors of state government, farmers of Assam for the first time successfully exported fruits and vegetables from Guwahati to Dubai, London and other international destination.

 

Today due to pro-active steps taken by the Central Governments, the Act East Policy enunciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi , farmers , innovators and entrepreneurs from the state are finding new opportunities to tap the huge markets of South East Asia and Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal. So being associated  in the field of agriculture I hope young scientists like you will realize the agri-business potential being thrown open by the Act East Policy and I wish that Assam Agricultural University and the graduating students have to play a most crucial role in making broad awareness of this potential amongst the farmer’s fraternity , said Sarbananda Sonowal.

 

Atul Bora, the Agriculture Minister during his address said that the Act East Policy initiative is an opportunity for us to be a force full player in trading our special food product in South East Asian markets and for this, we have to prepare ourselves in food processing , branding, packaging, and awareness campaigning. We have also to technologically prepare our farmers to be highly skillful in preparing food products with all food management practices for its expectation by the importing countries. Organic agriculture shall be an added advantage for the state to capture this opportunity particularly when under initiative of Government of Assam,, Airlines like Spice jet has already started helping the state in Air Lifting of fruits and vegetables from the state to other countries, so we need to perfect the organic agriculture production packages for the crops having export attraction and therefore I call upon the university to develop such packages as early as possible which youths like you from this university must take the advantage of this opportunity.

 

Dr. K M Bujarbaruah, the vice chancellor of AAU during his prideful address  mentioned that as many as 344 of the pas out students have qualified JRF, SRF, NET and DBT examination during the period of 2017-2018 and during the past two years 51 graduates and post graduates  have got employment through the training and placement cell of the university . I am happy to say that our university has orchestrated a number of collaborative program with institutions like Agriculture and Forestry University ( Nepal), Cornell University (USA), University of Illinois (USA), Karatina University (Kenya), University of Helsinki (Finland), Agriculture University of Anthes (Greece), University of East Angella( UK), University of Milan (Italy), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (Australia),. Martin Luther University (Germany), Universidad Politecnica d Mardid (Spain) etc.  While as many as 155 number of teachers across the faculties were given foreign exposure since 2009 and 2010 under collaborative programs of the university.

 

The convocation was presided by His Excellency the Governor of Assam and Chancellor of AAU Prof Jagadish Mikhi as a total of 1426 were conferred degrees among Dr. Punjab Singh and Dhruba Jyoti Sarma was conferred the Doctor of Science degree for their outstanding contribution in the field of agriculture in presence of the Registrar, Dean from six faculties, Hods, during the glittering 21st Convocation of Assam Agricultural University.