Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau.
Governor of Uttarakhand, Lieutenant General (Retd.) Gurmeet Singh, attended the closing ceremony of the 116th All India Kisan Mela and Agro Industry Exhibition as the Chief Guest at Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology in Pantnagar of district Udham Singh Nagar. The event was held on Monday afternoon at Gandhi Hall, where Vice Chancellor of the university Manmohan Singh Chauhan presented the Governor with a memento and shawl to mark the occasion.
Earlier in the day, the Governor laid the foundation stone for a new swimming pool at the university’s Physical Education Section. He also toured the exhibition stalls at the Farmers Fair, gathering insights on the showcased innovations. During the ceremony, the award for the best overall performance stall went to Kisan Fertilizer Agency, Kashipur, while the Best Group Award was given to Mahila Club, Pantnagar.
Addressing the audience on the 4th and final day of the event, Governor Singh said, “It is a privilege to be among the food providers of our nation. This university has played a pivotal role in India’s Green Revolution and continues to lead in agricultural education, research, and development,” he said. He also said that the university has conferred degrees on over 40,000 students, many of whom are making significant contributions in agriculture worldwide.
He further said, “Pantnagar University was ranked 361st in the QS World University Rankings, making it the only agricultural university in India to achieve this distinction. This is a matter of great pride for all of us.” Singh also emphasized the importance of using technology to address pressing challenges in agriculture, such as population growth, shrinking farmland, and climate change. “We must integrate innovation and research to make farming more sustainable and profitable,” he said.
The event saw the participation of over 27,500 farmers, including some from Nepal. Progressive farmer Narendra Mehra shared his experiences during the program. Dignitaries present included District Magistrate Udayraj Singh, Chief Development Officer Manish Kumar, and various agricultural scientists.
