The University of Agriculture in Faisalabad (Pakistan) has conferred an honorary degree of the Doctor of Science on renowned agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan for his “contribution to farm research and allied areas of plant-breeding, genetics, biodiversity and ecological studies.”
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Swaminathan said the Indian subcontinent should go in for an evergreen revolution (increase in productivity in perpetuity without ecological harm) on the one hand and a nutrition-sensitive agriculture on the other, through programmes rooted in the principles of ecology, economics, gender and social equity, employment and energy.
Emphasising the need for a farming system comprising crop-livelihood integration, Dr. Swaminathan urged universities to integrate their programmes to provide the needed support to farmers.
Lauding the Vision 2030 unveiled by the University Vice-Chancellor, Iqrar Ahmad Khan, he said that it would help Pakistan to meet the challenges arising from climate change through the scientific checkmating of higher mean temperature, reduced and uncertain precipitation and higher sea level.
