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Governor calls upon agri-scientists' role to help farmer

Cooch Behar: The aim of agricultural research is to ensure the farmers got food and instil self-confidence among them, West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi said here on Tueday.

One should not think that an agricultural scientist could teach a cultivator, he can educate the cultivators about the latest technologies only, Gandhi said at the inaugural address of the first convocation of Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya at Pundibari in Cooch Behar.

But the ideas of the scientist should be acceptable to the farmers, Gandhi felt commenting that a cultivator is the best representative in the agriculture sector and the agricultural scientist can only facilitate his exposure to modern methods of farming, the continuous advancement in the field.

"Success can be achieved" with the combination of advice and acceptance and an agri-university teacher is not "the Guru of the farmers but a helper only", Gandhi pointed out.

Dwelling on the issue of reports of suicide and cases of malnutrition among the farmers, Gandhi wondered as to why the people "who grow and harvest to feed others should have to fast."

Besides the Governor the Vice-Chancellor of the university Prof Minal Kanti Majumder, the Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Dr Mangala Rai and the Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension), ICAR, Dr Puranjan Das underscored the need for agricultural research for the growth in crop production.

The Governor conferred the Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa to Dr Mangala Rai, on the occasion. Altogether 211 graduates, 69 postgraduates, three PHD students and eight students in the post-graduate diploma of agriculture and horticulture faculties also got their degrees. -- PTI

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Governor calls upon agri-scientists' role to help farmer

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