Gujarat seeks Rs 100 crore Central grant for Anand University

New Delhi, Jul 17 (UNI) Gujarat has sought from the Central government a Rs.100 crore special grant for Anand Agriculture University (AAU), Anand on the pattern of the Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana for its enormous contribution to the White Revolution.

The demand was made by Gujarat Agriculture Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama at the 77th Annual General Meeting of the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), chaired by Union Agriculture Minister Shri Sharad Pawar, here yesterday.

Mr Chudasma said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had sanctioned Rs.100 crore to the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) for its contribution to the Green Revolution.

'' The Central Government should also recognise the role of Gujarat and its farmers in the White Revolution by sanctioning an equal grant of Rs.100 crore to the Anand University,'' he reasoned out.

Pointing out that the climate research at the AAU required to be strengthened by establishing a Centre for Weather Prediction and Climate Change, he made a strong case to the Centre to give its approval without any delay.

''This time round, Gujarat has published a calendar that is forecasting rains in all the eight agro-climatic zones of the state.

The onset of monsoon was also predicted in the calendar,'' he said.

Mr Chudasama also appealed to the Centre and ICAR to sanction the 'Scientific Extension Centre' at district level and in Agriculture Universities of the state for imparting training to farmers for better results.

The Gujarat Minister dwelt at length on the new approach of the state government, which envisaged taking the agricultural technologies at the doorsteps of farmers through 'Krishi Mahotsav', saying it was a grand success.

He said the results of 'Krishi Mahotsav-2005' were multifaceted and positive. ''In groundnut, the cost of cultivation has been reduced by 45 per cent while in cotton it has come down by 50 per cent. We also continued Krishi Mahotsav-2006 wherein 227 'Kisan Raths' meandered through 18,083 villages. The theme of this year was balanced use of agricultural inputs, promotion of horticulture and value added agriculture.'' Mr Chudasama said almost 14.50 lakh farmers were benefited by 'Kisan Rath'. A total of 655 agricultural scientists of the State Agricultural Universities had provided guidance to 6.84 lakh farmers. Besides, water conservation activities were also executed in a big way.

Pointing out that Gujarat had set 20 per cent growth rate in agriculture sector, he said the state government had launched several steps in areas of Agricultural Research and Extension Education.

Gujarat has set up the P.G. Institute of Food, Processing and Bio-Energy and Post- Graduate Diploma in Agricultural Information Technology and Dairy and Food Quality Assurance at the AAU.

Giving details about water conservation, the minister said the state government's initiatives in the area included construction of farm ponds and check dams, which had resulted in raising the water table and increasing the agricultural production..

''The Gujarat Government has also set an example for other states by arranging 'Krishi Mahotsav' and undertaking steps for water conservation,'' he added.

UNI SKS VA DS1355