More than 250 receive degrees at University of Agricultural Sciences convocation

Highlighting nutritional security as a major issue of the current era, Padma Bhushan Rajendra Singh Paroda, chairman, Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi, has said that increasing agricultural productivity was the only way to address hunger and malnutrition in India.
He was delivering the address at the fifth convocation of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, here on Wednesday.
He said that India would need 70 per cent more food to meet its demands by 2030 when it would be the most populous country in the world.
“Despite producing over 264 million tonnes of food grain a year, three out of every five children below 5 years of age are malnourished at present. The most protein malnourished children reside in South Asia more than sub Saharan Africa,” he said.
Considering the limited land resources, he added, there is a need to drastically improve productivity and more production with less costs through scientific farming by harnessing the fruits of Geographic Information Systems and land use planning, biotechnology and nanotechnology.
“It is the only way to eliminate malnutrition and achieve nutrient food security goals. The successive governments need to realise the challenges and come up with policy and investment support for achieving the goals,” he said.
As many as 171 undergraduates and 106 postgraduate students, including 10 doctoral degree holders, were given their degrees by Governor and Chancellor of the university Vajubhai Vala.
University Gold Medals and cash prizes were distributed to toppers in various streams and courses.