U.S. to support fellowship in agriculture studies and allied disciplines in India

United States of America’s Ambassador to India, Richard R. Verma, on Monday presented some good news to the students of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.

He said his country would support fellowship in India in agriculture and allied disciplines.

Explore

Interacting with the students at the University, he said that the fellowship was to explore animal health, post-harvest treatment, biological control, biotechnology and agricultural marketing.

This was necessary because the U.S. and India, as two of the world’s largest agriculture producers, should collaborate not only on the research front but to also ensure global food security and prosperity to the rest of the world.

As for research in agriculture, the countries needed to acknowledge the importance of agriculture biotechnology; in particular, the importance of genetically modified crops in boosting production. “While some still question the value of genetically modified crops, we believe it is one of the tools necessary to overcome the global challenge of feeding, clothing, and sheltering people as our land and resource base is increasingly constrained,” said Mr. Verma.

Such a collaboration and research was necessary because by 2050 the world population would touch 9.1 billion, to feed which the production should go up by 70 per cent from the present level. This would require significant investment in agriculture research.

Find answers

To the students he said that they were studying agriculture at a very crucial time because they should find answers to questions like how they could support rural jobs and income growth in rural areas, how to overcome resistance to innovative technology in food production, etc.

Mr. Verma then took questions from students.

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Vice Chancellor K. Ramasamy was present at the event.