Orissa Agriculture University All Set to Get International Exposure

BHUBANESWAR: Teachers and students of Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) are all set to get international exposure under an institutional development programme. To get advanced training on various subjects, as many as 50 teachers of the university will visit different international agriculture institutes while the varsity will conduct exchange programmes for students and invite industries.

Vice chancellor of OUAT, S N Pasupalak said, “The programme is aimed at achieving global standards in terms of quality education, skill enhancement of students and improving their employability by giving them industry exposure. Besides, the competency of teachers will be enhanced through global exposure. After successful completion of the programme at OUAT, it will be replicated in other agriculture universities of the country."

The programme will be implemented at a cost of Rs 30 crore of which Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) will provide Rs 25 crore and state government will spend Rs five crore. OUAT with the support of ICAR will also establish a regional centre of Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR) in the city.

Pasupalak said, “ICAR has already sanctioned Rs six crore for establishment of regional centre of IIPR. The centre will develop new varieties of pulses suitable for cultivation in five eastern states of the country including Odisha."

The university is going to organise its 37th convocation where noted agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan and L N Acharya will be conferred on honorary causa. The university has also developed five new varieties of maize seed and 15 other types of advanced seed varieties are in the pipeline.

Source:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/