The fifth convocation of Sindh Agriculture University was held at main auditorium of its campus on Thursday. Dr A.Q. Ansari founder vice chancellor Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam who was also the rector of Al-Khair University AJK attended the convocation as chief guest.
360 graduates, 300 post-graduates and one successful candidate of PhD were conferred their degrees, while 14 top-notch students were awarded Chancellor's Gold and Silver Medals for their outstanding performances.
Addressing the convocation, the chief guest Dr A.Q. Ansari said that keeping in view the present economic circumstances, mushroom growth of population, increasing rural poverty and post-WTO scenario, there is dire need to redesign the agricultural curricula not only to address the demands of the private sector but also incorporate both new role of market oriented agriculture and issues of direct relevance to food security and rural poverty as well. He said that Pakistan is a agro based country and its provinces specially Sindh is rich in agricultural and mineral resources with a favourable climate enabling to produce food and fibre crops, fruits, vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants but unfortunately these resources were not being exploited according to their potential as such the 80 percent people of the province were passing their lives in poverty condition. He said that the other important component of agriculture is a livestock which has been increased from 30 percent in the year 1988 to over 50 percent in the year 2007 but it is also far below its potential and needs proper attention.
He said that it has been anticipated that the world will be different place in the year 2020 and many of the trends that have begun to emerge will continue to be evident but other changes may be more difficult to project. He said that in 21st century, agricultural institutions in developing countries will need to address not only immediate production needs but also long term food security, sustainable agriculture and to achieve rural development as well. He said that in order to meet the food requirements of mushroom growing population of Pakistan in next 25 to 50 years viz-a-viz limited water and land resources makes it imperative to formulate new long term horizontal and vertical plans and policies and also embark upon new research projects including agriculture bio technology. He said that an incentive might be given to the rural oriented students by providing scholarships to them. He lauded the performances and projects of Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam and hoped that it would enhance research capabilities, leading to a significant increase in agriculture productivity, poverty reduction and provision of food security.
The vice chancellor Agriculture University Tando Jam in his welcome address said that his management was in process of establishing career counselling and placement services centres at the university to facilitate the students in seeking appropriate guidance about academic programmes and jobs during and after completing their degrees. He said that due to reforming steps taken by his management during past three years, the number of admissions has became more than tripled to 1,031 students in 2006-2007 as compared to only 324 students in the year 2004.
He said that in order to achieve an standard education through capacity building of the teachers and establishing other latest agro technologies the management of Sindh Agriculture University has submitted a master plan at its estimated cost of Rs 3 billion to Higher Education Commission with an aim to improve the quality of education research and scholarship to meet the future challenges. He said that this plan would be implemented in phases. He said that the first mega project of this plan under the title of strengthening and development of Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam has been approved at its estimated cost of Rs 461.44 million and it would be completed within 5 years. He said that 52 percent of the budget of this project would be utilised for human resource development consisting of 41 foreign PhD scholarships. Besides, it includes four major components/centres ie seed production and development centres, centre for bio-saline agriculture, plant genetic resources conservation centre and animal resources conservation centre. He said that the targets of this project are to double the enrolment of students in next five years, facilitate the teaching faculty up to PhD level, improve the infrastructure research facilities, produce graduates of higher calibre with market oriented approach and meeting the international standards to the utmost satisfaction of stakeholders.
He said that in addition to that the university management executing six different development projects at the cost of Rs 350 million and has completed three other different projects at the cost of Rs 300 million while other projects were in pipeline. The vice chancellor also informed that 25 years vision of the university has also been developed with a view to revamp the academic and research programmes to meet the international standard and produce market oriented graduates.
Later, the chief guest and vice chancellor gave away the degree certificates to the graduates, postgraduates and PhD successful candidates and also awarded Vice Chancellor's silver medals to the 7 male and female students for their outstanding performances. They also awarded Chancellor's gold medals to the seven male and female students and also same number of Chancellor's silver medals to the male and female students.
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