Mysore, Mar. 19 (KVV&RK)- A two-day national seminar on 'Changing Ethos of Agri-business Management and Education' was inaugurated by Anurag Bhatnagar, Director General, National Institute of Agriculture Marketing, Jaipur, at B.N. Bahadur Institute of Management Sciences, Manasagangothri here this morning.

The programme is organised by the Institute of Development Studies, University of Mysore and the National Institute of Agriculture Marketing, Jaipur.

Speaking on the occasion, Anurag Bhatnagar said that said that the agriculture sector contributed 55% of the total GDP at the time of Independence, but it had come down to just 17% at present.

He said while 72 per cent of the total population depended on agriculture sector in 1950s, at present, 62 per cent of the total population were depending on the agri sector.

Stating that out of the total available manpower in the country, two-thirds come from agriculture sector, he said that research in the agriculture sector was declining year by year.

Regretting that there were only 300 institutions across the country doing research works in agriculture, he appealed to the World Bank as well as other global financial institutions to extend financial assistance to the agricultural sector for taking up more research works.

Prof. H.S. Vijayakumar, Vice-Chancellor, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, in his keynote address, said that agro sector which contributed 55% to the national economy during 1950s was contributing just 17% at present. He called upon research scholars to analyse reasons for the sharp downfall.

Prof. V.G. Talwar, VC, University of Mysore presided.

Prof. S. Bisalaiah, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore released the book, "Contract Farming in India — Present scenario and Future Prospects" edited by Dr. M. Devaraj and Anurag Bhatnagar. Prof. P.G. Chengappa, VC, UAS, Bangalore was the chief guest.

More than 270 delegates from nine States including Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra are attending the two-day seminar.

Dr. K.V. Aiahanna, Director, Institute of Development Studies, Manasagangotri, was present.

Courtesy : Star Of Mysore