Governor Droupadi Murmu said on Friday that all the efforts of agriculture scientists must be directed towards fulfilling needs of farmers to help them grow their income and lifestyle. Addressing the Start-Up event ‘Agrivation’ at Birsa Agricultural University (BAU), she encouraged youths of the State to become job providers by starting their own innovative enterprise rather that running after jobs. A self-employed person is always better than a job seeker, she said.
“Be it BAU teachers, agri-scientists or students, all have to work for farmers only in their own way. Contributions of agricultural scientists will be evaluated not by the number of research papers, technical bulletins published and varieties of technologies developed, but by the change they bring in the socio-economic conditions of farmers,” said the ex-officio Chancellor of the University pointing towards BAU scientists and teachers.
She stressed on integrated farming system by incorporating animal husbandry, horticulture, fisheries, dairy and forestry into the system for increased and sustainable income to the farmers.
The Governor said that India is a country of youth with nearly 65 per cent population below 30 years of age and this youth power has the potential to transform India into a superpower.
The event was organised by the Jharkhand Agency for Promotion of Information technology (JAPIT) in association with BAU and IT Department of State government for identifying and encouraging Start-Ups in farm sector.
BAU Vice Chancellor Dr Parvinder Kaushal said there was great potential of Start-Ups in agriculture and allied sectors and need of the hour was to give proper direction and support for turning their innovative ideas into enterprise.
JAPIT Chief executive Officer Sarvesh Singhal said that altogether 16 Star-Up events are to be organized in the state for selecting 50 innovators who think and plan differently to start an enterprise.
“Each such selected individual shall be provided Rs 10 lakhs by the state government for their Start-Ups for delivering goods and services in a better, efficient and transparent way,” said Singhal.
He urged the youths attending the event to think differently for innovation in a better way using ICT. A World-bank funded Business Incubation Centre is already working in BAU since 2010 for guiding and supporting Start-Ups in agriculture sector.
BAU scientists, agriculture and forestry graduates, innovators, investors and others from industry participated in workshops and technical sessions which followed throughout the day.