UNIVERSITY CONVOCATION

West Bengal Governor at UBKV convocation

State Governor Mr Gopal Krishna Gandhi has conferred degrees to the successful students of Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya at the third convocation of the farm university at its Pundibari campus in Cooch Behar today.

In his address, the Governor, who is also the Chancellor of the UBKV, referred soil erosion as one of the major problems of the state. He said, "Soil erosion is an old problem of our state. Global warming has had little to do with it. If, the two phenomena – erosion and warming – are combined, you can imagine the effect. This is not something that is going to happen one generation from now. It will happen in our time." He quoted a portion of Tagore's 'Khokababur Pratyabartan' in Bengali to describe the effect of soil erosion.

The problem of irrigation also came up in the address of the governor. He said 62 percent of West Bengal's land is irrigated but not entirely through rivers and river basins. Shallow and deep tube-wells play their part. But, how many of the shallow wells yield water in the summer months, he questioned. "What is the prognosis for the Teesta Barrage when that river may receive reduced inflows?"

The UBKV Chancellor suggested that the UBKV may advise the state agriculture department in ways of strengthening food security and self sufficiency through paddy grown in smaller and ever holdings with reduced availabilities of water. It should also come up with programmes that can offer alternative cropping patterns with strains that can withstand drought and salinity, and in growing what Dr MS Swaminathan calls 'orphan crops' like ragi and millets, he said.

At the beginning of his speech the Governor wished good health to the Rajkanya of Cooch Behar, Gayatri Devi and expressed his respect to the memory of a great author of this region, late Amiya Bhusan Majumder.

The vice-chancellor of UBKV Dr Asit Kumar Das and deputy director general (education) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research Dr SP Tiwari too spoke on the occasion. 

Four receive Gold medals

Four students received Gold Medals in the third convocation of Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya that was held at Pundibari in Cooch Behar today. The chancellor of the university and also the state Governor Mr Gopal Krishna Gandhi conferred the Gold Medals and degrees to the successful students. The recipients of Gold Medals are Mr Rajeeb Gudi, Mr Arindam Barman, Mr Mayukh Ghosh and Mr Mrinal Kanti Jha.

PhD degree awarded to 6 students, MSc (Agriculture) degree awarded to 6 students, MSc (Horticulture) degree to 3 students, MSc (Forestry) to one student, BSc (Agriculture) degree to 37 students and BSc (Horticulture) degree awarded to 4 students.