Jammu, Mar 4: Terming agriculture as centre pillar in the state’s economic growth, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Friday underscored the importance of this and allied sectors as pivotal in employment generation.
Addressing the 3rd Convocation of SK University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu at Zorawar Auditorium here, the Chief Minister who is also the Pro-Chancellor of the University laid stress on blending traditional wisdom in agriculture with modern techniques and farm practices.
 “We need to encourage farmers to diversify into floriculture, dry land horticulture and cultivation of aloevera and other cash crops”, he said underlining the importance of timely supply of agriculture inputs to the farmers to help increase farm production and productivity.
The Chief Minister said that focused attention is required for on-farm storage, processing and marketing of agricultural produce adding that these aspects call for a massive extension effort.
Expressing gratitude to the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh for attending the convocation to deliver convocation address, the Chief Minister said that the presence of Prime Minister has brought grace to the occasion and acted as source of inspiration to all of us.
 “We all in the State are now looking for a special intervention from the Centre Government to give necessary push to production and marketing of world famous Basmati rice grown in the border areas of Jammu district”, he added.
Congratulating the passing out graduates for receiving degrees, the Chief Minister extended his greetings to all the parents and the teachers.
The Chief Minister also administered oath to 332 passing out graduates and distributed certificates of merit to the meritorious degree holders.
As many as 23 students received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, 81 degree of Master of Science in Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, 47 degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and 181 were presented degree of Bachelor of Veterinary of Science while 6 passing out graduates received the Gold Medals and 61 certificates of merit on the occasion.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 4 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 4 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 5 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST