Convocation at Pantnagar University

A Correspondent

Economic growth of the country cannot be sustained without focus on growth in the agriculture sector. With the impending challenge of feeding 1.8 billion people per annum, existing food production will need doubling in much lesser land by 2020, due to concomitant industrial growth. There will always be a challenge for agricultural scientists to generate higher incomes and better quality of life for farmers. In order to meet these challenges, it has become imperative that transformation of traditional farming is done while adopting new researches and new technologies," said Margaret Alva, Governor of Uttarakhand, while speaking as the chairperson on the occasion of the 26th Convocation function of the Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology (GBPUA&T), Pantnagar, the first State Agriculture University of the country. The convocation function was organised with traditional grandeur in the Golden Jubilee year of the University.

The Governor, in her capacity as Chancellor of the University, conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) on Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh "in recognition of his long and distinguished contributions in the field of economics and as the chief architect of Indian Economic Revival". The Governor said that the University is proud to have him to bless the graduating students and the University on the occasion of its Golden Jubilee.

Present on the occasion were chief guest Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, special guest Chief Minister Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', Minister of State (Govt. of India) Harish Rawat, Members of Parliament and Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha, Dr. B.S. Bisht, Vice-Chancellor of Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, members of the Board of Management and the Academic Council, Secretary to the Governor Ashok Pai, Additional Secretary Arun Kumar Dhaundiyal, apart from a large number of students, officials and progressive farmers, among others.