AP Governor wishes for ANGRAU to transform into a World-class University

Vijayawada, August 10 (prajaamaravati): Participating in the 50th Convocation of the Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, held at Mahati Auditorium in Tirupati, in virtual mode from Raj Bhavan on Tuesday, Andhra Pradesh Governor and Chancellor of the University Sri Biswa Bhusan Harichandan said he wished to see the ANGRAU to transform itself into a world class Agricultural University. For this to happen, the Agricultural University has to play a stellar role in teaching, research and extension activities, said Governor Sri Harichandan.

The Governor said he was happy to participate in the 50th Annual Convocation of the Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University and congratulated winners of the Gold medals, Awards and distinctions and appreciated their efforts in achieving the success and said they are the true ambassadors of the University.

Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, which is organising its 50th Convocation, is one of the best Agricultural Universities in the country and is also an Institute of National Importance and congratulated Dr. A. Vishnuvardhan Reddy, Vice Chancellor of the University and his team for achieving 13th rank among National Agricultural Universities for the year 2019 assessed by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), said the Governor. The skills of teaching faculty have to be upgraded from time to time, to achieve excellence in research by allowing academic freedom, providing well equipped facilities for teaching, research, extension and administration, said the Governor.

Governor Sri Harichandan said the University may take up projects under Public-private-partnership (PPP) mode in association with agro-industries to achieve synergy in solving field problems and benefit the students in terms of employability, fellowships, curriculum revision, collaborative research, entrepreneurial skills, sharing of resources etc.

He further added that developing sustainable, low cost, easily adaptable, climate smart agricultural technologies is need of the hour for Indian Agriculture and going by the demand for food security at national level, there is a need to boost crop productivity by release of crop varieties with high yield potential, resistant to pests and diseases. Drawing attention to the recent statistics of Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), according to which the Nation holds largest undernourished population in the world - about 14% of the population and 20% of our children below 5 years are underweight, 34.7% of them are stunted, and 51.4% of women in reproductive age are anemic, said the Governor. He said there is every need to overcome malnourishment and Agricultural Universities have to do good research on bio-fortification of crops, which is a cost-effective and a sustainable way to overcome the problem of malnutrition.

Governor Sri Harichandan said he was happy to learn that ANGRAU through its innovative Extension Methods has devised novel strategies such as “Massive Open Online Courses” through “Open and Distance Learning Centre” (ODLC), offering Certificate courses in Organic Farming, Terrace Gardening, Bee Keeping, Mushroom Production, Millet Promotion and Agricultural Journalism etc.

Dr. A. Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, teaching and non-teaching faculty, local public representatives, students and others participated in the Convocation held at Mahati Auditorium in Tirupati, while Governor Sri Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, Sri Mukesh Kumar Meena, Secretary to Governor, Dr. V. Chenga Reddy, Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao and others participated in the Convocation through video conference from Raj Bhavan.

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