File photo by PM Modi
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Saturday to take agricultural education at the secondary school level, saying that the necessary reforms in this regard have been carried out in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. “It is necessary to bring the knowledge related to agriculture and its practical application to the school level. (in) efforts to introduce the subject Agriculture in high school level in the villages, “Modi said.
This will develop understanding related to agriculture in students and allow them to provide information about agriculture, its modern agricultural techniques and its commercialization, to their families, he said, adding that this will promote agro-entrepreneurship in the country.
“For this, many reforms have been made in the National Education Policy,” Modi said in a speech after the virtual inauguration of the university and administrative buildings of the Jhansi-based Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University.
The NEP passed by the Union Cabinet last month replaces the 34-year-old National Education Policy and aims to pave the way for transformative reforms in the school and higher education systems to make India a global knowledge superpower.
Stating that constant efforts are being made to connect agriculture with modern technology, the Prime Minister noted that agricultural research institutions and universities have a vital role to play.
Currently, there are three central agricultural universities in the country, compared to just one university six years ago. In addition to this, three more national institutions – IARI Jharkhand, IARI Assam and the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Integrated Agriculture in Motihari, Bihar – are being established.
He remarked that these institutions will not only provide new opportunities to students, but will also help increase their capacity, in providing technological benefits to students. Local farmers.
Modi further said that in the past six years, the government has endeavored to establish a link between research and agriculture, and to provide scientific advice to farmers, at the ground level in the villages.
He sought the cooperation of universities in ecosystem development to streamline the flow of knowledge and experience from campus to agricultural fields.
On using modern technology to address the challenges of the agricultural sector, Modi cited the recent locust attack and said the government worked on a war footing to control the spread of the attack and reduce the damage.
He mentioned that dozens of control rooms were set up in various cities, arrangements were made to alert farmers in advance, and drones were supplied to spray pesticides. In addition, dozens of modern spraying machines used to kill locusts were purchased and delivered to farmers.
Stating that the agricultural sector has an important role to play in making India ‘Aatmanirbhar’ (self-sufficient), Modi said: “When I talk about aatmanirbhar in agriculture, it is not limited to food grains, but to self-sufficiency in a rural or village economy. ”
Self-sufficiency in agriculture aims for farmers to be both producers and entrepreneurs. The growth of farmers and the agricultural sector in general will lead to the creation of jobs at the village level, he said.
To further boost the agricultural sector and double farmers’ incomes, Modi said the government is carrying out several landmark reforms in the sector. He listed amendments to the Essential Commodities Act and ordinances to allow farmers to sell mandis outside.
“Like other industries, now farmers can also sell their products anywhere in the country, wherever they get better prices,” he said, adding that a special dedicated fund of Rs 1 lakh crore has been established to provide better facilities and promote industries. in a cluster-based approach.
Earlier, while interacting with students from the Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, the Prime Minister expressed concern about the huge 75 billion rupee edible oil import bill and asked the students for a solution to address this problem.
He also emphasized the need to increase food processing levels and raise awareness among farmers about micro, drip and sprinkler irrigation in the drought-prone Bundelkhand region and other parts of the country.
During the interaction, the Prime Minister also emphasized promoting water recycling and rainwater harvesting through innovative and less expensive technology in the region. He also mentioned that Israel’s water technology can be helpful.
In addition, he spoke about the need to increase agroforestry, reduce the consumption of chemical fertilizers and the adoption of organic agriculture, as well as zero-budget agriculture.
Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University started its first academic session in 2014-15 and offers undergraduate and graduate courses in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry.
It is currently operating out of the Indian Grassland and Forage Research Institute, Jhansi, while the main buildings were being prepared.
Minister of Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar, State Ministers of Agriculture Parshottam Rupala and Kailash Choudhary, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, and other senior officials were present at the virtual event.
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