DHARWAD, 14 May 2025: Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director and Vice-Chancellor of the ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, emphasized the urgency of adopting water-smart farming practices during his address at the 38th annual convocation of the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad.
Calling groundwater the "bank balance of agriculture," Rao urged the farming community and future agri-professionals to treat it as a finite resource. “Efficient use of water must become central to our farming systems, especially in regions like North Karnataka,” he said, highlighting the importance of water conservation and sustainable agricultural practices.
Rao also underscored the need to extend agricultural education beyond classrooms and into the fields. He pointed to emerging opportunities in oilseed and pulse production, and value addition, especially relevant to North Karnataka’s agro-climatic potential. Congratulating graduates and postgraduates, he said young minds must drive innovation and resilience in Indian agriculture.
Karnataka’s Minister for Agriculture and Pro-Chancellor of UAS-D, N. Cheluvarayaswamy, commended the university's contribution to developing new crop varieties. He urged students and faculty to focus on water conservation, organic and natural farming, and the digitalisation of agriculture technologies.
Presiding over the ceremony, Governor and Chancellor Thaawarchand Gehlot described the graduating students as “ambassadors of agriculture” and encouraged them to leverage technological innovations to make Indian farming smarter and globally competitive.
Vice-Chancellor P.L. Patil presented the university’s annual progress report, outlining advancements in teaching, research, extension, and seed production.
Honouring Excellence in Agriculture
During the convocation, honorary doctorates were conferred on three progressive farmers:
Dyamanagouda T. Patil (Hubballi) – for transforming barren land into fertile agricultural fields,
Shankar H. Langati (Belagavi) – for conserving traditional crop varieties,
Muttanna V. Pujar (Hangal, Haveri) – for promoting organic and natural farming.
Student Achievements Celebrated
Academic excellence was recognized with 44 UAS gold medals, 20 additional gold medals, and nine cash awards.
Aishwarya Basarikatti and Kartik Chigari, each securing an OGPA of 9.205/10 in BSc Agriculture (Hons), were jointly declared the ‘Golden Girl’ and ‘Golden Boy’.
Hemalatha C., Bharatkumar Viresh Goudar, and Viresh Alamel received UAS gold medals for top scores from Agriculture Colleges in Vijayapura, Hanumanamatti, and the College of Forestry, Sirsi, respectively.
Nikita Nippani and Chitra U. topped their respective fields in Community Science and Food Technology.
A total of 863 degrees were awarded, including 41 doctoral, 197 postgraduate, and 625 graduate degrees, marking a proud milestone for the university.
The event was attended by Registrar A. Bheemappa, members of the Board of Management, Academic Council, deans, faculty, and hundreds of students and guests.