Hyderabad, April 19 (IANS) Former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu has called on the youth to focus on agriculture, stating that agriculture is the backbone of the country.

He urged the youth to focus on this vital sector and stressed that research and scientific advancements must reach farmers in the fields rather than remain confined to laboratories.

The former Vice President was speaking at an event here on Saturday night to present the M.S. Swaminathan award.

Highlighting environmental concerns, the former Vice President warned against the excessive use of chemical fertilisers and underscored the importance of soil conservation and protection of nature and livestock.

Venkaiah Naidu called it a privilege to present the prestigious merit award, named after the Father of the Green Revolution, Dr M.S. Swaminathan, to Ch Srinivasa Rao, Director and Vice-Chancellor of ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute, for his extraordinary contributions to the field of agriculture.

Venkaiah Naidu lauded Dr Srinivasa Rao’s efforts in formulating essential national policies regarding agriculture and climate change. He noted that the award recognises his leadership in promoting natural farming practices and guiding the nation towards sustainable agriculture.

The presentation ceremony for the 9th Professor M.S. Swaminathan Award (2024-25) was jointly organised by the Retired ICAR Employees Association and Nuziveedu Seeds Limited at the Dr Marri Chenna Reddy Human Resource Development Institute.

Telangana Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, Chairman of Nuziveedu Seeds Limited, Mandava Prabhakara Rao and the president of Retired ICAR Employees Association, Vidyasagar Rao, attended the ceremony.

Agriculture Minister Nageswara Rao expressed happiness that the award was presented during the birth centenary year of Professor M.S. Swaminathan. He highlighted the need for scientific research to be more accessible to farmers and cautioned that neglecting soil health could reverse the gains of the Green Revolution.

Mandava Prabhakara Rao remarked that the award celebrates Dr Srinivasa Rao’s significant work in climate-resilient agriculture and natural resource management. He noted that Dr Rao has strengthened agricultural stability by expanding resource conservation technologies across millions of hectares and developing district-level contingency plans.

–IANS

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