Latest news with #RajendraPrasadCentralAgriculturalUniversity
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
40% increase in agri production in last 11 years: Union minister
Patna: Union minister for agriculture and family welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday called upon agricultural scientists to develop advanced technologies, including portable fertiliser testing tools, in response to farmers' demands so that India could become a developed nation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Speaking as the chief guest at the fourth convocation of Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU) at Pusa (Samastipur), Chouhan emphasised that since most Indian farmers operate on small landholdings, there is a greater need for compact, efficient machinery rather than large-scale equipment. More than 850 scholars of the university received their degrees, and nearly 20 of them were awarded gold medals at the convocation. Union minister of state for agriculture and farmers welfare, Ram Nath Thakur, and the state's deputy chief minister and agriculture minister Vijay Kumar Sinha also attended the convocation. The minister called for research focused on extending the shelf life of perishable agricultural produce like litchi and tomato. He also urged the students to put their knowledge and research to practical use and contribute to ensuring food security of India. Chouhan pointed out that under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, the country's food reserves are abundant. "We are now exporting wheat, and there was a significant increase in rice production as well. The production of food grains reached such levels that additional storage facilities are being arranged in the country," he said. "There has been 40% increase in agricultural production and Basmati rice exports worth Rs50,000 crore in the last 11 years under PM Modi govt, and we need to increase production per hectare," Chouhan said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The minister also emphasised the importance of promoting natural farming as a sustainable solution to safeguard the planet for future generations. He called upon the degree recipients to adopt farming as their careers and implement their knowledge in ensuring the implementation of natural farming. He further said, "Samastipur is the gateway to Mithilanchal, the sacred land of King Janak and Goddess Sita, who is an inspiration to women in India." The convocation was held in accordance with the traditions of the age-old Mithila culture, as the guests were wearing Mithila paag (headgear) with Madhubani painting on the occasion Speaking on the occasion, state deputy chief minister Vijay Kumar Sinha said that Bihar launched a number of schemes to promote the production of millets, pulses, and oils. RPCAU scholars engaged in research on these crops are being paid a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000, besides an annual contingency grant of Rs one lakh. Furthermore, the industries department has also set up an innovation and incubation centre on this campus, the minister said. RPCAU's vice-chancellor P S Pandey, in his annual report, pointed out that in the last nine years after its central takeover; the university developed 23 new varieties of different crops and 27 new agricultural techniques. Kashvi Kajal and Parna Chatterji were awarded the visitor's gold medals for UG topper students across the colleges. The chancellor's gold medal for the overall PG topper was awarded to Aditi Banik and Amimsha Limboo Subba. The vice-chancellor's gold medal to PhD toppers was awarded to Debabrata Nath and Jeevitha. Patna: Union minister for agriculture and family welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday called upon agricultural scientists to develop advanced technologies, including portable fertiliser testing tools, in response to farmers' demands so that India could become a developed nation. Speaking as the chief guest at the fourth convocation of Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU) at Pusa (Samastipur), Chouhan emphasised that since most Indian farmers operate on small landholdings, there is a greater need for compact, efficient machinery rather than large-scale equipment. He also called for research focused on extending the shelf life of perishable agricultural produce like litchi and tomato. More than 850 scholars of the university received their degrees, and nearly 20 of them were awarded gold medals at the convocation. Union minister of state for agriculture and farmers welfare, Ram Nath Thakur, and the state's deputy chief minister and agriculture minister Vijay Kumar Sinha also attended the convocation. Chouhan pointed out that under the leadership of the PM Modi, the country's food reserves are abundant. "We are now exporting wheat, and there was a significant increase in rice production as well. The production of food grains reached such levels that additional storage facilities are being arranged in the country. This marks a record growth in agricultural output," he said. The minister also emphasised the importance of promoting natural farming as a sustainable solution to safeguard the planet for future generations. He called upon the degree recipients to adopt farming as their careers and implement their knowledge in ensuring the successful implementation of natural farming. The convocation was held in accordance with the traditions of the age-old Mithila culture, as the guests were wearing Mithila paag (headgear) with Madhubani painting on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, state deputy chief minister Vijay Kumar Sinha said that Bihar launched a number of schemes to promote the production of millets, pulses, and oils. RPCAU scholars engaged in research on these crops are being paid a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000, besides an annual contingency grant of Rs one lakh. Furthermore, the industries department has also set up an innovation and incubation centre on this campus, the minister said. RPCAU's vice-chancellor P S Pandey, in his annual report, pointed out that in the last nine years after its central takeover; the university developed 23 new varieties of different crops and 27 new agricultural techniques. It was also awarded 13 patents on its innovations, besides a GI tag on 'Marcha Dhan', a variety of paddy, during the period. The university introduced several new PG diploma and certificate courses, including AI, IoT, big data analytics, drone technology, and e-marketing, with a view to meeting the needs of modern agriculture, he added. Kashvi Kajal and Parna Chatterji were awarded the visitor's gold medals for UG topper students across the colleges. The chancellor's gold medal for the overall PG topper was awarded to Aditi Banik and Amimsha Limboo Subba. The vice-chancellor's gold medal to PhD toppers was awarded to Debabrata Nath and Jeevitha.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Union agri minister urges scientists to develop compact machinery for farming, fertiliser testing tools
Patna: Union minister for agriculture and family welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday called upon agricultural scientists to develop advanced technologies, including portable fertiliser testing tools, in response to farmers' demands so that India could become a developed nation. Speaking as the chief guest at the fourth convocation of Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU) at Pusa (Samastipur), Chouhan emphasised that since most Indian farmers operate on small landholdings, there is a greater need for compact, efficient machinery rather than large-scale equipment. He also called for research focused on extending the shelf life of perishable agricultural produce like litchi and tomato. More than 850 scholars of the university received their degrees, and nearly 20 of them were awarded gold medals at the convocation. Union minister of state for agriculture and farmers welfare, Ram Nath Thakur, and the state's deputy chief minister and agriculture minister Vijay Kumar Sinha also attended the convocation. Chouhan pointed out that under the leadership of the PM Modi, the country's food reserves are abundant. "We are now exporting wheat, and there was a significant increase in rice production as well. The production of food grains reached such levels that additional storage facilities are being arranged in the country. This marks a record growth in agricultural output," he said. The minister also emphasised the importance of promoting natural farming as a sustainable solution to safeguard the planet for future generations. He called upon the degree recipients to adopt farming as their careers and implement their knowledge in ensuring the successful implementation of natural farming. The convocation was held in accordance with the traditions of the age-old Mithila culture, as the guests were wearing Mithila paag (headgear) with Madhubani painting on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, state deputy chief minister Vijay Kumar Sinha said that Bihar launched a number of schemes to promote the production of millets, pulses, and oils. RPCAU scholars engaged in research on these crops are being paid a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000, besides an annual contingency grant of Rs one lakh. Furthermore, the industries department has also set up an innovation and incubation centre on this campus, the minister said. RPCAU's vice-chancellor P S Pandey, in his annual report, pointed out that in the last nine years after its central takeover; the university developed 23 new varieties of different crops and 27 new agricultural techniques. It was also awarded 13 patents on its innovations, besides a GI tag on 'Marcha Dhan', a variety of paddy, during the period. The university introduced several new PG diploma and certificate courses, including AI, IoT, big data analytics, drone technology, and e-marketing, with a view to meeting the needs of modern agriculture, he added. Kashvi Kajal and Parna Chatterji were awarded the visitor's gold medals for UG topper students across the colleges. The chancellor's gold medal for the overall PG topper was awarded to Aditi Banik and Amimsha Limboo Subba. The vice-chancellor's gold medal to PhD toppers was awarded to Debabrata Nath and Jeevitha.
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
From ‘paag' to makhana, July 17 RPCAU convocation to promote Mithila culture
1 2 3 Patna: Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU), Pusa, will hold its annual convocation in accordance with the traditions of the age-old Mithila culture on July 17 for the first time. More than 800 students of the university will receive degrees, including at least 14 who will be awarded gold medals. The convocation ceremony will be attended by Union minister of agriculture and farmers' welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan , ministers of state Bhagirath Chaudhary and Ram Nath Thakur, and deputy chief minister and state agriculture minister Vijay Kumar Sinha. Vice-chancellor P S Pandey told the newspaper that the university is making efforts to promote Mithila culture at its convocation ceremony. He said that all the guests will wear the famous Mithila paag (head gear), specially made of Bhagalpuri silk. Moreover, the pagri will be adorned with world famous Mithila painting. "All invitees, especially the students, will attend the convocation in attires suited to the Mithila culture. Western attire will not be allowed. The lunch, to be served to the guests, will feature cuisines mostly from the Mithila region, including those made with GI-tagged makhana," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Registrar Mrityunjay Kumar said that this will be the fourth convocation ceremony of the university since it was converted into a central agricultural university in 2016. "The university will award the visitor's medal to the top PhD students in all faculties, the chancellor's medal to the top postgraduates and the vice-chancellor's medal to the top graduates. Additionally, gold medals will be awarded to 14 students who achieve the highest CGPA in various degree programmes," he said. He added that during the convocation ceremony, the Union agriculture minister will also inaugurate an international guest house and a state-of-the-art 400-bed hostel built for foreign students.
Mint
14-06-2025
- General
- Mint
How safe is the food on your plate?
Climate Change & You is a fortnightly newsletter written by Bibek Bhattacharya and Sayantan Bera. Subscribe to Mint's newsletters to get them directly in your inbox. Dear Reader, Last month I travelled to north Bihar to take a closer look at two of India's most loved summer fruits, litchi and mango. The Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University at Pusa, Samastipur, was holding a national seminar on litchi and litchi honey that turned out to be an eye opener. Scientists were honest to admit that despite the heritage and pride associated with the famous rose-floral scented Shahi litchi of Bihar, the orchards are in a state of despair. Unwilling to bear climate and market risks, owners and absentee landlords are selling their harvest months in advance to contractors. The contractors use a cocktail of chemicals to manage pests and maximize yields without caring for the overall wellbeing of orchards. Some insecticides are fatal for pollinators like bees, and excess use is hurting fruit yields and honey production. Most litchis won't pass pesticide residue standards for export to western markets. Farmers of Bihar, in good years, sell litchis for the price of potatoes-- it's a tragedy. Meanwhile, the urban consumer is paying a hefty price to buy the fruit, unaware of the toxic chemical residues they may be ingesting. The story is not very different for mangoes -- one can no longer be sure that the fruits are naturally ripened and residue-free. Worryingly, many Indian consumers are unaware of pesticide residue levels in primary agricultural produce, be it grains, pulses, fruits or vegetables. During my travels, I have met farmers who grow vegetables for their own kitchen without using chemical inputs -- for crops like okra and brinjal -- in separate, smaller plots. Many would not consume the other produce they themselves grow to sell in the market. Those who are part of the farm supply chain know of high pesticide residues in fresh produce -- made worse by a warmer climate leading to higher pest infestation. But all this is carefully kept under the wraps. We only seem to take notice when exports are red-flagged in developed markets. This has happened repeatedly, across products like rice, tea and spices. State of the Climate Late last month, several Indian cities went under water following extreme rains. The list includes Mumbai, Bengaluru and Guwahati. Over forty died following floods in the North-east. Experts blamed abnormally high sea surface temperature and a depression over the Bay of Bengal. Compared with the 50-year-average, the month of May witnessed 106% more rainfall this year for the entire country. The June-September annual monsoon arrived early this year and by 10 June, had seen a deficit of 33%. Right after this deluge, the focus shifted to the dreaded summer heat. Parts of central and northern India are now in the grip of a heatwave spanning Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi and the Jammu region. Residents of the national capital region usually flock to the hill states to escape the heat. But Himachal Pradesh, too, is in the grip of a severe heatwave with maximum temperatures crossing 42 degree Celsius in Una and 35 degrees in the popular tourist destination of Dharamshala on 10 June. Parts of the adjoining hill state of Uttarakhand are also witnessing high temperatures with Dehradun, the state capital, recording a maximum temperature of 39 degrees on Monday. The news in brief Climate Change Tracker Widespread use of pesticides and fertilizers, light and chemical pollution, loss of habitat and the growth of industrial agriculture have led to a drastic fall in insect population. Scientists are now witnessing a new phenomenon: a catastrophic collapse of insect populations in protected areas like forests. Global warming seems to be the culprit. David Wagner, an entomologist who spent his life documenting insect diversity, recently returned home empty-handed. 'I just got back from Texas, and it was the most unsuccessful trip I've ever taken… there just wasn't any insect life to speak of." And it was not only the insects which were missing. 'Everything was crispy, fried; the lizard numbers were down to the lowest numbers I can ever remember. And then the things that eat lizards were not present – I didn't see a single snake the entire time." Know Your Jargon Fast Fashion Fast fashion can be described as quickly produced and cheaply priced garments which copy the latest styles. The products are hurriedly pushed into stores to encash on current trends. The target is to shorten the lead time of a product, from design to purchase. The term 'fast fashion' was coined in the 1990s to describe Zara's rapid production system which was later adopted by other brands. The fast fashion industry has a huge environment footprint— because it uses copious amounts of water besides polluting rivers and seas. When consumers dump clothes after wearing them a few times, it adds to the waste load. The fashion choices of Gen Z in India, a 300 million consumer cohort, are not very planet-friendly. Because for every Greta Thunberg, thousands are chasing trends by stuffing their wardrobes with fast fashion. Prime Number 14 US-based businesses have cancelled or delayed over $14 billion in investments and 10,000 new jobs in clean energy and clean vehicle factories since January, as per an assessment by E2, a coalition of business leaders and investors. This was due to rising fears around the future of federal clean energy policy and tax credits. As per E2, in April alone, businesses cancelled $4.5 billion of investments in new battery, electric vehicle and wind projects ahead of the US House's passage of a massive tax and spending package -- dubbed the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act.' Movie of the Month Gints Zilbalodis' 'Flow" is an Oscar-winning eco-fable about a lone cat navigating a post-apocalyptic world. Made with a tiny team and free software, this Latvian animation shines. A silent film, it resists anthropomorphism: the animals do not speak in human tongue. The works draws emotional depth from a cat who journeys in a weathered sailboat with an unlikely crew -- a lemur, a capybara, a Labrador and a bird. 'Flow" explores climate collapse, cooperation, and resilience, reminding us that nature, not humans, may have the final word. That's all, for now. Bibek will be back with the next issue, in a fortnight.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
‘Teachers should work hard to make India a developed nation'
Patna: Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU)'s vice-chancellor (VC) P S Pandey on Thursday called upon the teachers to prioritise the nation's interests and strive hard to make India a global leader. Welcoming all the 80 newly appointed faculty members of the university after a monthlong faculty development programme, the VC expressed confidence that their joining would bring rapid progress in the university's work efficiency. He highlighted the significance of the faculty development programme in making the new teachers proficient in teaching, research, financial and administrative matters. Speaking as the special guest at the function, Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University's former VC Arvind Kumar appreciated that for the first time, a faculty development programme has been organised in the university to equip new teachers with the necessary skills and knowledge. He emphasised the importance of discipline and honesty in life and encouraged the teachers to work hard towards making India a developed nation by 2047. RPCAU's former VC H P Singh appreciated the diversity of the new teachers, representing 22 states of the country. He suggested that similar programmes should be organised for existing teachers to enhance their skills. The programme included sessions on work-life balance, communication skills and other soft skills. More than 100 renowned professors from India and abroad interacted with the new teachers and motivated them. Follow more information on deadly Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Stay informed with real-time updates on rescue operations and check the full list of passengers onboard AI 171 that crashed in Ahmedabad.
