Skip to content Skip to navigation

Expert stresses on agriculture

Prof. Asis Dutta, Padma Bhushan awardee, eminent scientist and former Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, appeals the upcoming generation from Northest to work towards the development of agriculture and farm products, to see their state at the 'zenith'.

An expert in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Prof. Dutta visited the campus of University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM) at 9th mile on Tuesdayafternoon and interacted with the students, scholars and faculty members of the University and said, “what really matters at the end of the day is your contribution to the society. And Northeast being very fertile area, one can contribute in its growth by bringing in new techniques in its agricultural sector,”.

“Science is a journey not a destination. The road to success is always…under construction” said, Prof. Asis Dutta, adding “Science means the triumph of human mind over matter, there are therefore no limits to the excellence to which human mind can develop. The quest for excellence is the driving force of human societies and civilizations as much as it is for human individuals and institutions”. He also encouraged the students to take an interests towards Genetically Modified (GM) crops, so that they can feed not only their countrymen but people all over.

Prof. Dutta added, “the world population will increase to 10 billion by 2050 which will lead to increase in food demand up to1.7 times by 2050. At the same time there will a drastic decline in cultivable land to less than 0.15 hectares per capita. This will lead to crop loss draught, salinity,disease and post-harvest losses. At that time Genetically Modified crops will be the only answer”.

The Life time achievement award, Biotech Research Society (2011) added that science and technology add value to society only if they are part of a “national innovation system” and said that all must “Dream to bring Science to Society”.

Along with Prof. Dutta, Dr. P.K.Seth, CEO, Biotechnology Park, Govt. of U.P., Lucknow and Former Director, Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Lucknow also visited the University campus and interacted with the students, scholars and faculty members. Prof. Seth is a biochemical pharmacologist and toxicologist who has made pioneering contributions to the field of Neurotoxicology.

The interactive session was conducted in the presence of all the senior faculty of USTM, including Dr. P.G. Rao, Pro-Chancellor (Honorary), USTM, Dr. C. R. Sarkar, Registrar, USTM, Dr. Aloka Sharma, Dean School of Business Sciences, Dr. D Baishya, Dean School of Media Sciences and Cultural Studies among others.

Author info

Irfan Khondker's picture

Add new comment

Random Stories

The Last Journey: Fans paying last respect to Biju Phukan during his funeral journey as it halted for a while at Rabindra Bhawan in Guwahati on Thursday. Pix by UB photos

Tearful farewell to Biju-da

23 Nov 2017 - 3:03pm | AT News
Amid a statewide pall of gloom the mortal remains of Biju Phukan consigned to flames a day after the popular film personality breathed his last at the age of 70. His fans thronged in thousands at...

Dissidence: Sonia’s call by 48 hrs

7 Jul 2014 - 9:29pm | AT News
Congress president Sonia Gandhi is likely to take a final call on the simmering dissidence within the Congress legislature party.Top AICC leaders told Assam Times that a worried Gandhi is keen to...

GMC polling underway

19 Jun 2013 - 8:22am | AT News
Amid tight security polling in the Guwahati civic bodies begins across the city. Over 7 lakh voters are free to decide on the fate of172 ward councillors along with 356 area sabha candidates. The...

Dibrugarh Journalists' sit-in-demonstration against AMC authorities

16 Jul 2008 - 2:38pm | editor
Journalists of Dibrugarh Staged a sit-in-demonstration protesting against the ban imposed by the Assam Medical College and Hospital authority on the entrance of the Journalists into the College...

Other Contents by Author

Irrespective of what media house they represent, more than 10 senior journalists from all over the region came together under one roof for a noble cause on Sunday to discuss the need of an educational institute, particularly University, which can be truly said to be a 'Peoples varsity”.All these members of the media fraternity, gathered in the administrative block of University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM) on Sunday in a programme organised to interact with the media for Incorporating Ideas to make USTM a Peoples varsity.Almost all the media persons agreed on a point that although there is a mushroom growth of institutes all over, particularly in an around...