####Sustainable Farming and Crop Protection are the Future: MPUAT Vice Chancellor Ajeet Kumar

Udaipur.Vice Chancellor Ajeet Kumar of Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology (MPUAT), Udaipur, while addressing a press conference on Monday, stated that “sustainable farming and crop protection are not mere choices but the only viable path to ensuring food security in the coming decades.”

He pointed out that by 2050, the world’s population is expected to rise to 10.8 billion, with India alone projected to reach around 1.75 billion. In such a scenario, agricultural production will face immense pressure, further aggravated by limited land, water scarcity, and the challenges of climate change.

Clarifying misconceptions about pesticide use, Ajeet Kumar emphasized that India’s pesticide usage is among the lowest in the world. “On average, India uses just 0.36 kg of pesticides per hectare compared to the global average of 2.5 kg and over 11 kg per hectare in China,” he explained.

He underlined the need to empower farmers with integrated pest management, organic pesticides, precision farming technologies, and alignment with the ‘Make in India’ initiative. Such steps, he added, would strengthen both the income of farmers and India’s global agricultural exports.

The Vice Chancellor stressed that universities and research institutions must collaborate with farmers and agri-companies to create practical and cost-effective solutions.
“Agriculture is the backbone of India, and crop protection is its shield. If this shield weakens, the dream of food security will remain incomplete,” he concluded.