Gandhinagar, May 6 Urging a move away from "paperwork formalities" towards direct engagement with farmers, Governor and Chancellor Acharya Devvrat on Wednesday told young veterinarians and animal husbandry officials to work at the grassroots as Kamdhenu University held its 12th convocation ceremony in Gandhinagar.
Addressing the gathering, he said: "Officials and young veterinarians should leave aside paperwork and reach the doorsteps of farmers. The lack of a scientific approach in villages is affecting livestock quality."
He said improving breeds could help double the income of animal rearers and called for focused research on indigenous cattle such as Gir and Kankrej to enhance milk productivity.
A total of 676 students were awarded degrees across veterinary, dairy and fisheries sciences, including 468 undergraduate, 175 postgraduate and 33 doctoral candidates.
The Governor conferred 92 medals during the ceremony. He said life’s purpose should not end with employment after obtaining a degree.
“The goal of life should not be limited to earning a degree, getting a job and retiring; true life lies in living for the welfare of others,” he said.
He added that the establishment of specialised universities in Gujarat across sectors such as animal husbandry, security studies, education, forensic science and natural farming reflects a larger vision that the younger generation must now carry forward.
"Young veterinarians should prioritise fieldwork in rural areas rather than remain confined to air-conditioned offices," he said.
Sharing his experience, he said he maintains around 450 cows in Kurukshetra and has increased milk production from 10 litres to 62 litres through scientific methods.
He questioned why similar outcomes could not be achieved in India when countries such as Brazil have achieved yields of up to 40 litres from Indian Gir cows, attributing the gap to a lack of determination and implementation.
“The impact of chemical farming is evident, as fertilisers such as urea and DAP have degraded soil quality, and the use of nitrogen leads to the emission of nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas,” he said.
He also raised concerns about pesticide traces being found in human breast milk, calling it a serious health risk.
He said: "Natural farming and conservation of indigenous cattle were the only ways to address these challenges."
The Governor urged graduates to assist farmers in developing improved livestock breeds and to extend the benefits of subsidised sex-sorted semen provided by the state government to villages.
State Animal Husbandry Minister Jitu Vaghani said: "The convocation marked not only the awarding of degrees but the culmination of years of hard work and determination."
He expressed confidence that graduates would contribute to the development of the state and the nation through their skills.
He also welcomed the signing of MoUs between Kamdhenu University and Hester Biosciences Ltd., Anand Animal Helpline, Bharat Vedika and Banas Dairy, stating that "such collaborations would open avenues for innovation and research in animal husbandry".
Padma Shri awardee and veterinarian Dr N. Punniamurthy called for a shift in livestock management practices, urging graduates to adopt an ecosystem-based approach rather than treating animals solely as production units.
He highlighted the challenge of antimicrobial resistance and said reducing the use of synthetic chemicals in veterinary care and adopting ethno-veterinary medicine based on traditional practices was essential.
Emphasising the ‘One Health’ concept, he said, “Healthy soil, nutritious fodder and healthy animals are essential for building a balanced and healthy human society.”
He urged graduates to become protectors of biodiversity and farmers’ livelihoods rather than only technicians or clinicians, and to contribute to making India a centre for natural farming.
Among the awardees, three female students received the Chancellor’s Gold Medal and three students were awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Gold Medal.
Donor-sponsored medals were presented to 75 undergraduate, 10 postgraduate and one doctoral student.
Five students received cash prizes, two were awarded merit certificates, and honours for Best Teacher, Outstanding Researcher and Best Extension Educationist were also presented.
The Governor also unveiled the university’s annual report and documentary, a documentary of the College of Dairy Science in Amreli, and a book on goat farming.
Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor