MPUAT:Three-Day National Seminar Commences

Udaipur,  Dr. P.L. Gautam, Chancellor of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU), Samastipur, Bihar, emphasized the need to make agriculture a globally significant contributor to the economy during the inaugural session of the 11th National Seminar on "Transformative Agriculture and Sustainable Development: Rethinking Agriculture for a Changing World." The event, organized in collaboration with the Society for Community Mobilization for Sustainable Development, New Delhi, and Maharana Pratap Agriculture and Technology University, Udaipur, kicked off on Tuesday at the new auditorium of Rajasthan Agriculture University.

Dr. Gautam highlighted that achieving the status of the world's largest economy by 2047 on the international stage is crucial. Agriculture and rural development play integral roles in continuous progress. Goals include improving farmers' livelihoods, reducing poverty, promoting environmental conservation, ensuring food security, enhancing rural infrastructure, and distributing resources and opportunities equitably. These objectives aim to establish a balance between economic development and social welfare within the framework of agricultural practices.

The three-day seminar, titled "Transformative Agriculture and Sustainable Development: Rethinking Agriculture for a Changing World," is set to address the challenges faced by India's agricultural sector. Dr. Ajit Kumar Karnatak, Vice-Chancellor of MPUAT, welcomed the guests and emphasized the positive impact of climate change on this year's wheat production, projecting a 20% increase.

Dr. J.P. Sharma, former Vice-Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu, and Chairman of Mobilization, highlighted the importance of sustainable and transforming agriculture. He emphasized the need to connect contemporary agriculture with traditional practices, cultural practices, and folklore, which are now celebrated as food festivals.

Dr. B.P. Sharma, Group Chairman of Pacific Group of Education, Udaipur, and Chairman of UNESCO (MGIEP), stressed the importance of sustainable and transformative agriculture. He emphasized the need for sustainable practices, including water management, insect control, and efficient farming techniques.

During the seminar, Dr. Ajit Kumar Karnatak, Vice-Chancellor of MPUAT, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Society. The event also witnessed the launch of two books, a coffee table book, and a calendar authored by Dr. Dhruti Solanki, Dr. Rajashree, Rishika Negi, Dr. Arvind Verma, Amit Trivedi, and Dr. Hemu. The gathering concluded with the release of flower bouquets for the guests, tying turbans, and expressing felicitations. Approximately 300 agricultural scientists and progressive farmers from across 12 states are participating in the symposium.