Bhubaneswar, Feb. 17: The 35th convocation ceremony of the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) took place here today.

A total of 798 graduates, 383 postgraduates and 21 PhD scholars received their degrees. The varsity also conferred 110 gold medals, three chancellor's cup and cash prizes on students.

Vice-chancellor Manoranjan Kar told the gathering about the OUAT's seven new crop varieties in paddy , one each in linseed, ragi, hybrid variety of arhar and black gram last year.

Kar said the OUAT was ranked third in the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (Junior Research Fellowship) examinations, 2015, among 73 agriculture universities across the country. "The university was also awarded educational excellence for the year 2014-15. Till date, the OUAT has produced 17,471 graduates, 6,492 postgraduates and 373 PhD scholars in various disciplines," said Kar.

"Despite adverse climatic situations, hard work of the farmers, agricultural scientists and extension functionaries, our state bagged its 4th Krishi Karman Award in the past five years," said agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy, who was present at the event.

Governor S.C. Jamir conferred honorary doctorate degrees on Ashutosh Roy and Bibekanand Mohanty in recognition of their contribution to the agriculture and animal husbandry sectors, respectively.

"Research has increasingly become a group activity. Inter-disciplinary research and inter-departmental collaboration is a reality," he said.