New Delhi: The Annual Conference of Vice Chancellors of Agricultural Universities and Directors of ICAR Institutes was held in New Delhi yesterday (14 February 2017). Addressing the conference, the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Mr Radha Mohan Singh said that a MoU has been signed for establishing a BRICS Agriculture Platform (a Virtual Network). Mr Radha Mohan Singh said that from last year, 5th Dean Report has been implemented in all the Agricultural Universities of the country and will be enforced from the academic session of 2016-17.
Mr Singh informed that ICAR has launched “Student Ready” scheme in this direction. In this scheme, from the year 2016-17, scholarship to the students has been increased from Rs. 1000 to Rs. 3000. The minister also said that in addition to this, another scheme “ARYA” is also being implemented successfully. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Unnat Krishi Shiksha Scheme was launched in the year 2016 to promote agricultural education under which 100 centres are being opened with a fund of Rs.5.35 crore.
On this occasion, State Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Mr Parshottam Rupala, Secretary, Department of Agriculture Research and Education & DG ICAR, Dr Trilochan Mohapatra and all Vice Chancellors of the Agricultural Universities were present.
Mr Singh also informed that with the opening of new Universities and Colleges, many initiatives are being taken to promote agriculture education such as Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar has been upgraded to Rajendra Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar and 4 new colleges have been opened under this University. One National Research Centre has been established on Integrated Agricultural System in Motihari, six new colleges have been opened in CAU, Imphal and with this, the number of colleges has been increased to 13. Four new colleges have been opened in Rani Laxmibai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi, Bundelkhand, out of which 2 are in Uttar Pradesh and 2 Colleges are in Madhya Pradesh.
Mr Singh said that IARI-Jharkhand has been established and students of the state are studying in various courses. To promote agriculture education in the north-east states of the country, land for IARI has been identified in Assam. An amount of Rs. 122.5 cr. each has been released for Acharya NG Ranga Agriculture University in Andhra Pradesh and SKTLSHU in Telengana.
Agriculture Minister said that in the arena of International Co-operation, our relations with foreign Govts., foreign Universities, and International Bodies have been strengthened. A MoU has been signed for establishing a BRICS Agriculture Platform (a Virtual Network). Agriculture Ministry of Afghanistan is providing assistance for establishing of Afghan National Science and Technology University (ANASTU) in Afghanistan. It is also providing assistance to establish Advance Centre for Agriculture Research and Education in Mayanmar. Similar cooperation is also being provided in the African Continent.
