Odisha: NRO urges Centre to establish Central Agriculture University at Kalahandi

Orissadiary, Feb 24, 2012

Report by OrissaD Iary.com bureau; Bhubaneswar: Non-resident Odia Digambara Patra urges Union Minister of Agriculture Sharad Pawar to set up Central Agriculture University at Kalahandi in Odisha. In a letter to Pawar, Patra said that, "the steps you have taken for the growth of agriculture in the nation are highly appreciated. Recent declaration of central Government to give special importance to agricultural growth of eastern part of the nation including Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand etc is also adorable."

"Agriculture contributes substantial portion to our economy and human resources. It is the prime source to the rural economy and is backbone of the nation. As the agriculture land area is decreasing due to urbanization and industries, to meet the food demand at the national and international level the stress on agricultural out put per hectare of agricultural land will increase with population."

Full Text of letter:  To
Sri Sharad Chandra Govindrao Pawar
Honorable Union Minister of Agriculture

CC
Dr Manmohan Singh, Honorable Prime Minister
Sri Naveen Patnaik, Honorable Chief Minster of Odisha
Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture
MPs from Odisha
Media
Dear Honorable Sri Pawar,

The steps you have taken for the growth of agriculture in the nation are highly appreciated. Recent declaration of central Government to give special importance to agricultural growth of eastern part of the nation including Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand etc is also adorable.

Agriculture contributes substantial portion to our economy and human resources. It is the prime source to the rural economy and is backbone of the nation. As the agriculture land area is decreasing due to urbanization and industries, to meet the food demand at the national and international level the stress on agricultural out put per hectare of agricultural land will increase with population. This will require very advanced technology, modern tools, innovation and creativity in the world class level that institution like central University could only fulfill.

In this connection establishment of high quality central university for education and research relating to agriculture bear importance. Ministry of Agriculture had already established Central Agriculture University at Imphal for North Eastern states. Recently the Union agriculture ministry had also given the go-ahead to develop a Central Agriculture University in Jhansi for Bundelkhand.

Odisha has a great potential in agriculture in the national level. Despite known for backwardness, Kalahandi is one of the top rice, cotton and pulse producing region in Odisha. This region is very rich in terms of agriculture and agriculture products. An institution of higher learning for the development of agriculture science and technology is a must in this backward cluster for the benefit of eastern states in India. Therefore, in the line of North Eastern states and Bundelkhand, it will be wise to establish a Central Agriculture University at Kalahandi which will boost economy in the most underdeveloped part of the country.

We urge you to kindly consider establishing a Central Agriculture University at Kalahandi in Odisha for eastern part of the country.

Thanking you and best regards

Digambara Patra