Kanpur: Stressing the need to improve the university’s national standing, governor and chancellor Anandiben Patel on Friday called upon scientists, faculty members and students of Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology (CSA) to work relentlessly to raise its ranking and ensure that innovations developed in laboratories reach farmers’ fields. Addressing the university’s 28th convocation ceremony, she urged graduating students to promote organic and natural farming, harness artificial intelligence (AI) in agriculture and help boost farmers’ incomes through innovation.The governor said the country urgently needs young agricultural professionals capable of transforming the farming sector. She asked scientists to promote the cultivation of Shri Ann (millets) and encouraged students to adopt cow-based natural farming and organic practices in their villages to reduce cultivation costs and double farmers’ income.She also highlighted the role of Drone Didis and Krishi Sakhis in enhancing agricultural productivity, adding that AI would play a transformative role in improving farmers’ livelihoods. “The soul of India resides in villages, and the soul of villages resides in farmers. Therefore, innovations from laboratories must reach farmers,” she said.The convocation, held at the university’s Kailash Bhavan Auditorium, saw 372 students receiving degrees, while 27 meritorious students were honoured with 33 medals and awards. The degrees included 69 PhDs, 179 BSc (Agriculture), 28 BSc (Horticulture), 19 BSc (Forestry), 10 BSc (Community Science), 52 BTech degrees in various branches, eight BFSc and seven BTech (Dairy Technology) degrees.Among the honours presented were nine Chancellor’s Gold Medals, nine University Silver Medals, nine University Bronze Medals and six Sponsored Gold Medals. Male students received 19 medals (57.58%), while female students secured 14 medals (42.42%). Patel, chief guest Indra Mani Pandey, Secretary General of BIMSTEC, and Vice-Chancellor Dr Sanjeev Gupta presented the medals to the awardees.At the ceremony, the governor also uploaded all 372 degrees to DigiLocker and congratulated the graduating students. SEarlier, Vice-Chancellor Dr Sanjeev Gupta presented the university’s annual progress report, highlighting achievements in teaching, research and extension activities. He announced that the state Cabinet had recently approved the establishment of a College of Horticulture in Rae Bareli, while ₹3.5 crore had been sanctioned for modernising the university library. He also said the Railways had introduced travel concessions for students commuting to and from the university.Chief guest Indra Mani Pandey praised the university’s contribution to Indian agriculture, noting that it had developed more than 300 varieties of pulses, oilseeds and foodgrain crops and played a significant role in the Green Revolution. He urged scientists to undertake demand-driven research, develop climate-resilient crop varieties and focus on achieving self-reliance in pulses and oilseeds through agricultural diversification.
