“Lead, innovate and create” should be the guiding objective for students in today’s rapidly changing world, said Subrat Kumar Pradhan, Director, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India, during an interaction with students of the Central University of Odisha (CUO), Koraput.
The interaction was presided over by Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Ajit Kumar Shasany in the presence of Dean of Schools Prof. Narasingha Charan Panda, Head of the Department of Agriculture Dr. Manjushree Singh, faculty members and students.
Highlighting the changing nature of agriculture, Pradhan observed that the sector is no longer confined to traditional farming. It now intersects with food, nutrition, health, water, energy, environment, economy, technology and employment, and is closely linked with Artificial Intelligence, robotics, data science, precision farming and biotechnology.
He encouraged students to identify specific problems faced by farmers in the Koraput region, develop innovative technology-driven solutions, demonstrate them in the field and scale up successful models for wider societal benefit. He particularly urged them to integrate modern scientific knowledge with traditional agricultural practices, enhance farmers’ income across the undivided Koraput-Balangir-Kalahandi (KBK) region, develop value-added products from local crops and create enterprises that generate employment rather than merely seeking jobs.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ajit Kumar Shasany emphasised strong academic foundations, multidisciplinary learning and practical skills, and encouraged students to explore startups and entrepreneurship to address challenges concerning farmers and communities.
The interactive session enabled students to share their views on innovation, agriculture and the role of youth in regional development.
