Governor SC Jamir and former President APJ Abdul Kalam at the 33rd convocation of OUAT in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 25: Former President A.P.J Abdul Kalam today suggested that Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology should include the subject of co-operative farming and entrepreneurship in its syllabus.

Speaking at the varsity’s 33rd convocation, Kalam stressed on the need for a farmer co-operative movement.

“Today, one of the major problems in the field of agriculture is small-size land holding by farmers which is continuously getting fragmented due to the Indian family structure…only solution for increasing productivity is to create a positive farmer co-operative movement in the rural sector,” said Kalam.

“When the farmer’s production increases, the co-operatives will forecast and establish networks with markets on behalf of the individual farmers to facilitate rapid movement where there is a demand and profit cost. Also, the entrepreneurs should plan for diversification and value addition of the product needed by various sections of the society,” he said.

Kalam supported the use of transgenic technology, which is the introduction of a foreign gene into a plant.

“No illusionary fears can stop the advancement of what is rational and logical. The solution lies in developing beneficial transgenic crops locally,” he said.

Vice-chancellor Manoranjan Kar elaborated the achievements made by the varsity over the years while chancellor S.C. Jamir wished success to the graduating students.

As many as 459 graduates, 243 postgraduates and 15 PhDs were conferred degrees in various disciplines. Students were also awarded 85 gold medals and 11 cash prizes for excelling in various subjects.

Honorary doctorates were conferred on eminent personalities from agriculture and allied sciences, including E.A. Siddiq, S.C. Mohapatra and A. Narin.