Integral Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Integral University, Lucknow Celebrates National Farmers' Day

 
Lucknow, 24th December 2024: Integral Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Technolog (IIAST), Integral University, Lucknow organized the National Farmers' Day on 24 December 2024. The event honor and recognize the contributions of farmers to society, particularly in ensuring food security and sustaining agricultural practices. 
Hon’ble Chancellor Professor Syed Waseem Akhtar also shared his thoughts, saying, “Farmers are the backbone of our society, and we are committed to providing them with every possible support. Late Chaudhary Charan Singh always stood up for the rights of farmers and fought for them. Today, we honor his contributions and express our gratitude to the farmers.”

Pro Chancellor Dr. Syed Nadeem Akhtar stated, “Integral University is continually working towards innovation and progress in the agricultural sector, and today’s event is a testament to that commitment. We are eager to contribute more to the agriculture sector in the future.”
The Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Manoj Kumar Singh (IAS), attended the event as the Chief Guest. In his address, Mr. Singh described the contributions of farmers as unparalleled, stating, "Farmers are the backbone of the nation's economy and food security. It is because of their hard work and dedication that our country is prosperous and secure. The contribution of Late Chaudhary Charan Singh will always be remembered, as he fought for the rights of farmers and took numerous steps for their welfare." He added, "The Uttar Pradesh government is constantly working towards the overall development of the agricultural sector. He highlighted that the state government has taken several new initiatives in agriculture. Uttar Pradesh is using remote sensing technologies for agricultural surveys to accurately assess land and crop conditions. This will help identify which crops are grown in which fields in every village. Furthermore, the Uttar Pradesh government will be collaborating with Google for weather forecasting, providing real-time weather updates to farmers so they can make informed decisions. Under this scheme, weather forecasts for the next day will be sent to farmers' mobile phones in every village. This initiative will benefit farmers and improve their agricultural productivity."
Additionally, the Chief Secretary mentioned that a project worth ₹4,000 crore named "UP AgriZ" was approved in Washington with the World Bank on 10th December. The primary goal of this project is to enhance the agricultural productivity of 28 districts in Uttar Pradesh that have lower agricultural output, bringing them above the national average. The Uttar Pradesh government is also working on creating a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for agriculture, enabling the export of agricultural products. Furthermore, plans are underway to export agricultural products directly from Uttar Pradesh to foreign markets via cargo flights from Jewar Airport."
Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Mr. Javed Musarrat, in his welcome speech, stated, “Integral University is organizing this event in recognition of the invaluable contribution of farmers, and we are committed to bringing more innovation to the agriculture sector in the future.”
Other distinguished guests included Mr. Udham Singh Gautam, Deputy Director-General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, and Dr. Jitendra Kumar Tomar, Director, Directorate of Agriculture, Uttar Pradesh. Mr. Udham Singh Gautam emphasized the use of the latest technologies in agriculture to empower farmers, which would play a crucial role in the country's agricultural development. Dr. Jitendra Kumar Tomar mentioned, "Our goal is to ensure that agricultural knowledge reaches farmers through scientific methods so they can adopt modern farming techniques and increase their yield."
Professor Mohammad Haris Siddiqui, Registrar, Integral University and Director, Integral Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Technology in the introductary remarks said, "Our university's goal is not only to promote agricultural education but also to introduce farmers to advanced technologies and scientific methods so that they can become more productive and empowered."
The highlight of the event was the honoring of 24 progressive farmers from various districts of the state for their invaluable contributions. The event also featured the Integral Farmer Expo, where national and international institutions, private and public sector companies, agricultural science centers, farmer producer organizations, and other agriculture-related entities showcased cutting-edge agricultural technologies. It also witnessed the commemoration of ICAR accreditation of Bsc (Hons) Agriculture Programme, release of brochure for National Conference on Unlocking Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Driven Smart Agriculture for (Viksit Bharat), organized by IIAST, felicitation of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs ) and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). 
At the conclusion of the program, Professor Saba Siddiqui, Chairperson of the Department of Agriculture, expressed gratitude, stating, "Our aim is not only to provide education to farmers but also to ensure various initiatives for their overall development. Integral University is continuously working in this direction."
This event reflects the university's commitment to promoting innovation, development, and the prosperity of farmers in the agricultural sector.