Under Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, industrialists and agricultural scientists interacted with each other during a day-long programme on ‘Institute Industry Interface on Rice’ held at Jawaharlal Nehru Agriculture University (JNAU) on Tuesday. Forty industrialists associated with rice industries across the State, participated in the event. Chief guest Vice-chancellor, JNAU, Dr. Pradeep Kumar Bisen opined to prepare future agricultural scientists and students by imparting education based on the industry's demand. So that the industry and agriculture field both would avail optimal benefits of their knowledge. Similarly, the university will develop crop varieties as per industry's demand and would sign MoUs with the industry. The Vice-chancellor hoped that the interface will show a new direction to the industrialists to practically implement their ideas. Mentioning Rice as 'Life Line' of Madhya Pradesh's farmers, Director, Research Services, Dr. GK Koutu emphasized to focus on it's cost, value addition and packaging.

 

Talking about enormous scope in paddy production, Dr. Koutu said that the farmers can earn big profit by establishing industry at the national and international-level. Simultaneously, new varieties can be developed conducting research as per industry's demands. Special guest, Dean, Agriculture Faculty, Dr. Dhirendra Khare and Director, Extension Services, Dr. Dinkar Sharma asked to ensure better use of resources but to maintain soil's health by adding nutritious elements. The scientists displayed 150 varieties including 25 popular varieties developed by JNAU during exhibition. They also gave detail technical information regarding processing. The industrialists especially discussed about GI Tagged Balaghat Chinnour rice. Simultaneously, the Food Science Department demonstrated the techniques about making of food items from rice. Other dignitaries who attended the programme included Registrar, Revasingh Sisodiya, Director, Education, Dr. Abhishek Shukla, Director, Agriculture Business Management Institute, Dr. Sunil Nahatkar, Dr. KK Tiwari from Dabar industries, President, Rice Association, Samay Jain, Ashok Puryadi from OK Foods and others. Principal Scientist, Dr. Moni Thomas anchored the programme which was concluded with vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Anupama Verma.