Monday 26 September 2011

India needs to focus on agriculture research programmes for increase in productivity : UGC Chairman Ved Prakash


NEW DELHI: India needs to lay more emphasis on farm research programmes to help increase agricultural productivity, University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Ved Prakash said today.

"We need to put more efforts into our farm research programmes and come out with cutting edge technologies so as to bring a qualitative change in the life of our farmers," Prakash said at a Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) function here.

During his inaugural address at the special meeting of agriculture university (AU) Vice Chancellors, Comptrollers of AU, Directors (research) and other farm research officials, the UGC Chairman stressed upon the need to push education as a strategy for poverty alleviation.

"We have not been able to educate our farmers about the latest technology," he added.

Prakash assured that "UGC will provide all possible assistance to ICAR in its efforts to foster quality research in the farm sector".

UGC is the central agency providing funds to educational institution and is involved in coordination, determination and maintenance of standards in institutions of higher education.

S P Patil Chairman of the working group on agriculture for the 12th five year plan said that the group is reviewing the higher education system of agriculture in the country and would accordingly suggest proposals for strengthening the viability of State Agriculture Universities.

ICAR Director General S Ayyappan said that the curriculum of agriculture studies in the colleges needs to be updated and has to be brought at par with the latest curricula around the world.

"We are in the process of formulating a policy for higher education in agriculture so that our students are aware of the latest developments and are prepared to undertake research with more ease," Ayyappan added.
 

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