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Adopting modern technologies makes agriculture profitable: Dr P Chandrasekhara

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Mangalore, October 10:  The Director (Agriculture extension) of National Institute of Agriculture Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad, under Ministry of Agriculture Dr P Chandrasekhara said, in  transforming ’Agriculture’ to ’Agribusiness’, it is necessary to equip the farmers with new technology which makes the sector sustainable.

  Dr P Chandrasekhara, inaugurated a three-day international conference on Agribusiness management-opportunities and challenges, organised by department of Business Administration at Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management (SCEM) here on Thursday, October 9th.

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In his key–note address he said, “Over hundred Agricultural institutions in the country come up with latest technologies. But only 30% of those technologies are reaching farmers. While contemplating on the switch over from agriculture to agribusiness, the need to strengthen the transfer of technologies is paramount”.In order to make agriculture to be profitable, he stressed on several key areas to be focused, for the much needed switch over to technology.  “Farmers group coming into action will facilitate the harnessing of technology. Market led extension, Information Technology led extension, extension of public-private partnership, quality led extension, extension of entrepreneurship, involving the participation of techno managers etc are the right steps towards achieving the goal,” he pointed. Promoting cluster like approach in agriculture, alike China will also help materialise the shift.

Addressing the gathering, Dr P Chowdappa; Director of Central Plantation Crop Research Institute (CPCRI) (Kasargod) said that instead of switching all alone to agriculture alone, coupling the cultivation with horticulture crops would make wonders. He said, “In CPCRI, we have developed several value added products out of coconut such as coconut chips, Neera drink, Virgin coconut oil, snowball tender coconut.   These are much in demand and these types of innovation will transform agriculture into an agribusiness venture”.

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He asserted that the novel initiatives had proven that agriculture could be a profitable one in terms of sustenance, production and profit. Even increasing number of software engineers are today plunging into agriculture field adopting modern technology, making use of the opportunity, he said. Chowdappa added that to draw the attention of the young generation to agriculture, these initiatives are the necessary.

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The symposium was presided over by the Chairman of Bhandary foundation Dr Manjunath Bhandary

On this occasion, Director Dr A P Achar, Principal of the College Dr Umesh M Bhushi, Department of Business Administration, Prof Lokesh delivered their talks.  Among Eighty  delegates, 30 from African countries were present in the conference.

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