Dimapur, October 21 (MExN): The 40th foundation day of School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development (SASRD), Nagaland University was celebrated on October 20 with T Imkonglemba Ao, Principal Secretary and APC as the chief guest.
He stressed upon the importance of food grains and livestock saying that Nagaland state has 70% of land under agriculture, 70% of workforce under agriculture and 70% of these are women farmers. “Major chunk of the GDP (29.62%) in the Nagaland state is contributed by agriculture produce in the state which is true for all the other north east states as well. However, much more needs to be done,” said the chief guest. Referring to Vision document 2030 and keeping with the various state policies and visions, he said that the state has become self sufficient in almost all crops except rice which we hope to achieve by 2020 and the cost of import for meat has reduced from 675 crores in 2010 to 230 crores.
He encouraged the Alumni of SASRD to play important role in bringing together the state policy makers and the University authority to work together for the development of agriculture and on this foundation day, recommit ourselves individually, as a fraternity and for the betterment of the society.
The foundation day speaker, Dr PS Lorin, Principal, Tetseo College, Dimapur urged the university to go forward for a new beginning to build a righteous generation to unite and work together without any “ism” and to work with integrity.
Director of Agriculture, Helie Rupri-o stressed on the need to develop on the Indigenous Technological Knowledge and on the preservation and conservation of indigenous crops while Dr. I P Khala encouraged for research on fodder crops and animal feeds which can be efficiently converted to food for the people of the state as well as the north east region which would be profitable for the farmers as well.
A press note stated here that the Annual Alumni Award consisting of a citation and cash prize of Rs. 20,000 for the B. Sc. (Hons) Ag Topper 2017 was awarded to Bipasha Dutta. Prof. T Lanusosang, Pro Vice Chancellor, delivered the welcome address where a brief history and the present status of SASRD were highlighted. Special numbers were presented by EU Choir and Nungshitula Pongen and God’s presence was invoked by Dr. Razouneinuo Zuyie. The programme was chaired by Dr L Tongpang Longkumer, Associate Professor & Head Department of Agronomy.
