Telangana is emerging as the Rice Bowl of India: Governor

Hyderabad, Aug 27: “With the series of initiatives in irrigation, agriculture

and other allied sectors, Telangana State is fast emerging as the rice bowl

of India,” said Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan.

Addressing the 4 th Convocation of the Professor Jayashankar Telangana

State Agricultural University through online mode from the Raj Bhavan,

here, on Thursday, the Governor in her Chancellor’s Speech said that

measures like Kaleshwaram project, Mission Kakatiya, aquaculture, Rythu

Bandhu etc., have the potential to turn Telangana into the rice bowl of the

country.

The Governor exhorted the young passing out graduates, doctorates and

agricultural scientists to take up interdisciplinary research to promote

sustainable agriculture.

“Though we could improve our food grains production tremendously with

the Green Revolution, we have started overusing the chemical fertilisers

and pesticides thus harming the soil and environment and compromising

on sustainability. It is high time to integrate the traditional wisdom and

technology to ensure both sustainable agriculture and food security,” Dr.

Tamilisai Soundararajan added.

Expressing anguish over the severe malnutrition that exists in our

country, the Governor stated that it was high time that we address the

issues of malnutrition and under nutrition by taking balanced farming

pattern with the right mix of cereals, millets, oilseeds and pulses and

mineral and vitamin rich fruits and vegetables.

Referring to initiatives launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for

reforms and promotion of agriculture, she said that Rs 1 Lakh Crore

package for agriculture sector under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative

will go a long way in contributing to the sustainable and profitable

agriculture in the country.

Kisan Credit Cards, Soil Health Cards, Fasal Bhima Yojana and Kisan

Samman Yojana have been contributing a lot to the agriculture sector in

India.

As the Chancellor of the university, Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan conferred

honorary doctorate on NABARD chairman Govinda Rajulu Chintala, who

was also the chief guest at the convocation.

The Governor also awarded doctoral degrees to 30 successful scholars,

and presented 12 gold medals to the winners in UG courses and 10 gold

medals to the winners in PG courses.

PJTSAU Vice-Chancellor Prof. V. Praveen Rao, Registrar Prof. S. Sudheer

Kumar, Deans of various faculties, faculty members, staff, students,

scholars and others joined the virtual convocation.