UAS toppers want to make a difference on the field

She has no agricultural background, but Amrutha Lakshmi, who bagged seven gold medals at the 50th convocation of the University of Agricultural Sciences-Bangalore, believes she can do her bit for farmers.

Speaking after the convocation on Saturday, the BSc Agriculture student of UAS Bangalore hailing from Kerala said, "I do not come from a agricultural background. But I know that is my strength. I hope to be a agriculture scientist who can develop techniques and mechanisms to ease the work of farmers."

"My father Balasubramanya is a retired bank officer. My mother Radhamani is a homemaker. Farming is not a primary occupation in the place where I come from. My high school teacher Satish encouraged me to take up BSc in Agricultural Sciences. I will go on to pursue MSc in Plant Diseases at the University of Agricultural Sciences-Dharwad."
Lakshmi's dreams are to develop what she calls "farmer friendly medicines".

Combating malnutrition

Dinta Sabastian, who also bagged seven gold medals, is pursuing her MSc in Food Technology in Mysuru's Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI).

Dinta, who also hails from Kerala, said, "My father has a rubber and coconut farm. I am well aware of the struggles farmers face. I hope to develop food to combat malnutrition."
H S Pallavi, a student from Mandya bagged four gold medals.

Coming from an agriculture background, she said that even as farmers invested thousands of rupees hoping to reap the best crop, it is ruined due to pests.

"There is a need to find new techniques to control pests," she said.

The toppers also felt the government must give farmers a better living and not subsidies.

No subsidies please

Dr Vinay Kumar, who bagged four gold medals in his PhD, is of the opinion that the government must focus on ensuring that farmers have sustainable living and should not give them subsidies.

“Farmers should be seen as businessmen. They should be rewarded with adequate price for their produce,” Ravi S V, who bagged four gold medals, said. He sought better marketing facilities for farmers. ‘Process agri products’

Former chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation  K Kasturirangan, said Karnataka is the second-most drought-prone state after Rajasthan.

With just 3% of Karnataka’s harvest being processed, he said students must take this as a challenge and improve this.