‘Live-Link’ between researchers, farmers needs to be built: CM Himanta

 GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attended the closing ceremony of the Platinum Jubilee Celebration of the College of Veterinary Science, Khanapara, on Thursday as the Chief Guest. The Chief Minister also inaugurated the newly-built International Guest House of Assam Agricultural University located at Khanapara. Built at a cost of Rs 30.79 crore, it has 12 VIP rooms, 43 executive rooms, a 40-person capacity VIP dining area, an eight-person capacity private dining area, a 110-person capacity dining area, a conference hall, an exhibition hall, and a 28-bedded dormitory.

Speaking at the event that was held at the premises of the College of Veterinary Science, the Chief Minister said the College of Veterinary Science has managed to add many feathers to its hat in the more than seven decades of its glorious existence. The Chief Minister lauded the College of Veterinary Science for producing some of the finest alumni who have made a name for themselves through their professional expertise in the field of veterinary and allied sectors. The Chief Minister further added that the College of Veterinary Science, Khanapara, has managed to walk hand-in-hand with other institutions of higher learning dedicated to veterinary studies across the country, and many research works that were carried out here have the potential to immensely benefit poultry farmers in the State.

The Chief Minister said that to meet the country’s milk demand by 2030, milk production shall have to grow at a rate of 7 per cent year-on-year for the next seven years and that Assam has immense potential for growth in the field. Further, stating that Assam is far from attaining self-sufficiency in meeting the demand for egg and meat products in the State, the Chief Minister said an ecosystem needs to be built that unleashes the State’s growth potential in these fields.

The Chief Minister said in comparison to States in the rest of the country, the northeastern region and Assam are yet to make the best use of the opportunities the agriculture sector offers. In order to be able to compete with states such as Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, among others, an ecosystem that promotes entrepreneurship needs to be built up, he added. He remarked that students of agricultural and veterinary science from Assam should focus on becoming job creators rather than job seekers.

The Chief Minister said there should be a live link between researchers in the field of agriculture and field-level farmers so that the latter can enjoy the benefits of the research. A State Health Mission for the veterinary sector in the line of the National Health Mission shall be brought in soon, the Chief Minister added.

The event was also attended by Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairy Parshottam Rupala, Assam Minister for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Veterinary Science Atul Bora, President of the Veterinary Council of India Dr. Umesh Chandra Sharma, Vice Chanchellor of Assam Agricultural University Dr. Bidyut Chandan Deka, and a host of other dignitaries. Secretary of the Northeastern Council, K. Moses Chalai, was present during the inauguration of the International Guest House, stated a press release.

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