Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Agricultural Institute, Rani Lakshmi Bai Central University’s College and Administration building, one of the most elevated college of Jhansi, Bundelkhand region.
During the interaction with students, Prime Minister asked students about whether awareness among farmers can be created about micro, drip and sprinkler irrigation in the drought-prone area like Bundelkhand. Prime Minister also talked about rainwater harvesting and recycling of water through innovative and economic technology.
First academic session at Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University started in 2014-15. This university is offering courses in both under-graduate and post-graduate programmes including agriculture, horticulture and forestry. As the main buildings were under construction, it is currently operating from the Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi.
Prime Minister said, “India took scientific steps to combat the attack of locust swarms in ten states in the month of May this year, an effort which must have acknowledged by the world.” Adding to this, he said that for more innovation and scientific improvement in agriculture field, Nation’s scientists should also work on the basis of ‘One Life One Mission”.
PM Modi said that in agriculture, self-reliance is not limited to self-sufficiency in food grains, but that the concept encircled self-reliance of the overall economy of the village.
Prime Minister said that continuous work is being carried out to connect farming with technology and in that, agricultural institutes and research institutes plays a big role. Adding to this, he said, either its drone technology, artificial intelligence technology or modern equipment technology, young researcher like you will need to work continuously to make it useful up to the hilt so that it can be used in the country’s agricultural system.
Along with this, PM Modi said that until six years ago, only one Central Agricultural University was functioning in the country, and now there are three Central Agricultural Universities which are providing quality education about agriculture to students.
And he also mentioned three more National Institutes that are being established at Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Integrated Farming at IARI-Jharkhand, IARI- Assam, and Motihari.
PM also told about taking agriculture related education and its practical applications to the school level. He said, “Efforts are on to introduce agriculture subject to middle schools at the village level.”
Apart from all this, Prime Minister also talked about new ponds construction in Bundelkhand. He said that here to fore, more than Rs 700 crore had been spent in Uttar Pradesh under the “Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyan”, under which employment was provided to millions of workers. And he said “I have been told that under this campaign in Bundelkhand, Hundreds of ponds have been repaired and new ponds have also been constructed.” And when these will be ready, millions of families will be benefited from them.
“In Bundelkhand, work is going on towards the “Atal Ground Water Scheme” to raise the level of ground water. Be it Bundelkhand Expressway or the Defence Corridor, these projects worth thousands of crores will work to exuberance of employment opportunities here,” He said.
He also mentioned that the day is near, when “Jhansi, the land of heroes” and nearby areas will be the big centers to make the country self-reliant in defence sector. And the mantra of “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan” will be echoed in all the directions of Bundelkhand.
After this, he said the Central Government and the Government of Uttar Pradesh are working to enrich the ancient identity of Bundelkhand, the pride of this earth.
Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that this inauguration was long awaited and this will benefit Bundelkhand and the whole Nation.
Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said that this agricultural University setup in drought-prone zone Bundelkhand will benefit and help farmers to become self-reliant. Along with this, he also admired Government’s recent efforts that have brought positive changes in the region. The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojna has rebounded in drought to a large realm in the region, and Jal Jeevan Mission has solved the drinking water issues here.
