Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik today emphasised on the need to use "new technology" for the benefit of farmers even as he called upon agriculturists to explore horticulture and floriculture for their own economic betterment.
"Agriculture in our country is not in as good a shape as it should have been despite huge availability of fertile land and an ever-expanding infrastructure which can support increased agricultural productivity.
"Our agriculture scientists have a very important role to play here. They should come up with ideas which would help pressing into service new technology for the benefit of farmers", Naik said here.
The Governor was addressing the convocation ceremony of Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology & Sciences, previously known as the Allahabad Agriculture Institute, situated at Naini on the outskirts of the city.
Sharing the stage with senior cabinet minister Shivpal Singh Yadav, the Governor expressed concern over the large number of "vacant seats of teaching faculty in the state's universities" and appealed to academicians to "modernise curricula" and "take more initiatives in the field of research".
Earlier, the Governor also presented Yadav and a number of scientists - from India as well as abroad - with Honoris Causa Doctorate degrees.
