KAU News Letter June 2023 Convocation Special issue

CONVOCATION SPECIAL JUNE 2023 Volume XXVI ISSUE 3 web : www.kau.in e-mail : [email protected] KAU Convocation 2022 It is every college student’s dream to hold their hard- academic and professi- earned graduation certificate at a heavenly venue. 3rd June 2023 onal excellence and a was the day of realization of that dream of 1514 students under healthy blend of family, Kerala Agricultural University. Every graduate will remember friends, recreation and the grand graduation ceremony at the proud venue of community. Vellanikkara Main Campus as one of the most precious moments of their life. That is the glory of Kerala Agricultural University Additionally, he “Convocation 2022”. noted that “ All strategy is dependent on the “Every university should be an institution that is ready to take leader’s ability to envision advantage of the possibilities of the future” Dr. B. Ashok, IAS, the future and re-design its structure and modulate the Vice-Chancellor of the Kerala Agricultural University recalled ecosystem to fare better”. That is why a University cannot afford in his welcome speech. He pointed out that even when to be designed on yesterday’s principles or allowed to rest experts in different branches of knowledge achieve excellence on today’s laurels. A University, by definition, has to be an on their own, mutual cooperation is paramount and only institution located forever in the future and has to consistently then the entire society can benefit from their efforts. He stay ahead of the curve or the point of history where it presently exhorted that a human life is complete only when there is operates. 1

KAU News 2022 Convocation Special He continued that “No person, irrespective of his/her entering the society with an agricultural degree. “Every graduate achievement can expect to be acknowledged as a Prophet in should not use the acquired knowledge only to get a govern- his own backyard. You may need such a happy private ment job but become an entrepreneur or promoter of entre- backyard where near and dear ones poke fun at you to remain preneurship in the agricultural sector” he urged. He promised human and very fallible. The special skills, academic excellence all government support for this. and professional achievement need to be paused to meet the small demands of otherwise insignificant everyday life. It is He appreciated the conservation project of Kerala Agri- also learning of a kind, we learn humility to accommodate cultural University like Kasargode dwarf cattle and mainte- and cooperate with one another”. nance of genetic resources of wide varieties of crops. He upraised KAU efferts in awarding GI tag to seventeen agricul- Adv. K. Rajan, Hon’ble tural produce of different native varieties of Kerala. Minister of Revenue and Member of the Executive Honouble Governor of Council of Kerala Agricultural Kerala and Chancellor of KAU University addressed the Mr. Arif Mohammed Khan audience by enumerating started his inaugural address the activities of Kerala with a quote of our first Prime Agricultural University and Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru the contributions made by “Every thing else can wait, but the University in this field not agriculture”. Later he men- to make agriculture a profitable enterprise. He spoke about tioned the words of Dr. M. S. the importance of providing adequate employment oppor- Swaminathan, who led the tunities to agriculture graduates and their responsibilities Green Revolution that “If agri- towards the society. culture goes wrong nothing else goes right”. The mantra of these reforms has been Krishidhanya, krishimedhya, He added that though the high productivity in agriculture jantonavjeevanamkrishi implying that agriculture provides is enhanced through research, the present target is to achieve prosperity, intellect and forms the basis of human life. high price and profitable market avenue for the agriculture produce. The effert of Kerala Agricultural University in providing He said that what institutions like Kerala Agricultural latest seed varities and initiatives like mobile seed van University have been performing is a continuation of the (vithuvandhi) were appreciated by him. He also pointed the tradition of furthering agriculture and not merely as an assigned need for a more vibrant intervention from KAU to solve the work, but as a scholastic Yajna conducted for universal welfare. man-animal conflict. Mr. P. Prasad, Minister Pledge of Agriculture and Pro- Chancellor of Kerala Agri- He conferred an honorary degree, the Honoris causa, cultural University urged in to Dr. P. K Ramachandran Nair, an internationally renowned the presidential speech agricultural scientist. Subsequently, the Chancellor admini- that for the sustainable stered the graduation pledge. Thereafter, he awarded the development of the state, medals and endowment prizes to the top students across a there must be an awakening range of faculties and disciplines. Later, the Honorable in the agriculture sector. The Chancellor accepted the pledge signed by graduates against government is making the evils of the dowry system. efforts to create 3 lakh employment opportunities in Kerala by 2026 by focusing on agricultural groups. To make this possible, he asked for the participation of every student 2

2022 Convocation Special KAU News Distribution of Certificates He continued that the recent Meeting of Agricultural He added that the mission to double the farmers’ income Chief Scientists (MACS) chaired by India as G-20 President in the country deserved special mention on this occasion. had given an impetus to the dream of a knowledge economy The success of such a mission largely depends on efficient by deliberating on trends like Digital Agriculture, Digital technologies for crop production and value addition, which Solutions for reducing Food Loss and Waste, Agri-tech calls for pro-active involvement of the Agricultural Startup Ecosystem, Pluralistic Agricultural Extension Services Universities in the generation and dissemination of etc. These trends may revolutionize agriculture and technology. agricultural research in the coming years. He continued that “While the focus of research in He expressed his confidence that the Kerala Agricultural universities must be on guiding the agricultural sector in University has immense potential in transforming the State increasing overall production and productivity of crops, it into a self-sufficient and growth-oriented economy through should not lose sight of empowering the ordinary farmers the development and transfer of cost-effective technologies with knowledge and training in novel practices”. and innovative institutional arrangements for credit, subsidies and insurance. Hats off 3

KAU News 2022 Convocation Special Balloon brigades to welcome Kalaa Sandhya Convocation venue The Chancellor concluded by expressing that “the Doctorate, Graduate and Post-Graduate programmes, Diploma wealth of knowledge we have acquired and the understan- Certificate Courses, Online KAU Lecture Series and ding of humanistic values that KAU have gained through e-Governance Program were also launched in the University education will help the students to serve the nation’s cause during the convocation ceremony. A violin concert and to excel in life”. conducted by Mr. Edappalli Ajithkumar and a music and dance performance by the unique artists of the Kerala In the event, 1514 students received their graduation Kalamandalam added brilliance and beauty to Convocation certificates including 804 degrees, 475 postgraduate 2022. degrees, 87 doctorates and 148 diploma certificates. New Printed and Published by Dr. Jacob John, Director of Extension, Kerala Agricultural University. Editor : Dr. Ani S. Das, Professor and Head, Communication Centre, KAU. Editorial Board : Dr. Sunil V. G., Mr. Ansar C. P., Ms. Aswathi Krishna R., Ms. Aswathi K. K., Dr. Chinchu V. S., Dr. Smitha S., Dr. Sulaja O. R. Printed at KAU Press, Mannuthy