Agriculture state's backbone, says guv at BAU convocation
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hagalpur: Governor-cum-chancellor of universities, Arif Mohammed Khan, on Saturday said the economy of Bihar, and indeed the nation, rests on the foundation of agriculture.
Addressing the 8th convocation of Bihar Agricultural University (BAU) at Sabour, Bhagalpur, Khan, while stressing the transformative power of agricultural research and innovation, said technological advancement must directly benefit farmers and society, bringing tangible socio-economic change.
Motivating the graduating students, the governor urged them to become creators of employment rather than mere seekers.
"Students should develop themselves into employment providers rather than mere employment seekers," he said, praising BAU's holistic approach in shaping careers. He called on the graduates to dedicate themselves to the service of society, the state and the nation while highlighting PM Narendra Modi's 'Viksit Bharat 2047' vision.
Earlier in the day, the governor conferred degrees on 797 students at a glittering ceremony held in the Karpoori Auditorium.
Among them were 320 female and 477 male graduates, including 633 undergraduates, 134 postgraduates and 30 PhD scholars. Khan also felicitated Shivam Kumar and Avnish Kumar for their outstanding research theses and honoured several BAU scientists and faculty members for excellence in academic work.
Deputy CM and agriculture minister Vijay Kumar Sinha lauded the graduates and spoke at length about the state govt's 'Agriculture Road Map'.
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He urged the new degree holders to utilise their training to improve productivity and promote intelligent resource use in farming.
Rural development minister Shravan Kumar commended BAU for establishing a high-quality academic atmosphere and its commitment to agricultural advancement. He praised the university's recent NAAC Grade 'A' accreditation, calling it a testament to its national standing.
Vice-chancellor D R Singh said BAU students were now recognised for advancing sustainable agriculture. He detailed infrastructure improvements, the introduction of smart classrooms, digital tools and capacity-building programmes that support farmers under the 'Unnat Bharat Abhiyan' initiative.
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