September 30, 2009 :Smt. Prabha Rau, Governor of Himachal Pradesh, has called upon the scientific community to generate easy to adopt, specific technologies for the common farmers of the State. The Governor, who is Chancellor of CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, made this observations while chairing the eighteenth meeting of the university senate, at Palampur today.
The Governor said that farmers of the State were hard working but most of the area was rainfed so to make difference in their lives, research efforts were required to be accelerated. Such technologies were required which do not put financial burden on the farmers. They should be advised to grow high value cash crops to enhance their income where irrigation facilities were available. She asked the scientists to make all the twelve Krishi Vigyan Kendras (Farm Science Centers) more vibrant to provide specific extension and training services as per the needs of particular area. Similarly, feedback mechanism should be strengthened to improve skill transfer and other farm based requirements of the farming community.
Smt. Rau appreciated the University for formulating uniform academic calendar and effectively controlling the menace of ragging. Although the university had made efforts to increase domestic income yet it has to be accepted as a challenge to further supplement it. She also advised the staff to improve the work culture by the spirit of dedication, transparency and honesty.
Dr.Tej Partap, Vice-Chancellor, while presenting the progress report highlighted major achievements in academic, research and extension education programmes. He said that intake of students under self financing seats had been increased and modern infrastructure and other facilities had been created to attract foreign students. A large number of research projects had been sanctioned to the university including Rs.281 lac under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Pariyojana by Govt.of H.P. and Rs.78 lac project under integrated farming system research by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), etc.
The Vice-Chancellor informed that the university has taken new initiatives to transfer the technology by live telecast of farm seminars, telephone help-lines,etc. in addition a large number of training programmes. The university had tried to increase its domestic income which will touch Rs.4 crore during current financial year. The expenditure on salary could be contained within available grant-in-aid but the university requires additionally Rs.12 crore on account of grant of revised pay scales to the employees.
Elected and ex-officio members attended the senate meeting and deliberated on various issues concerning the university.
Earlier, the Governor laid the foundation stone of girls’ hostel to be constructed at a cost of Rs.1.5 crore. Fully funded by the ICAR, the new hostel will have 36 double bed rooms, two dormitories, etc. and will solve the accommodation problem for girl students in the university.