He said that the development of improved crop varieties was necessary since India had a large population suffering from malnutrition, and BARC had developed about 40 new crop varieties for commercial cultivation in the country.
Addressing the third graduation ceremony of St Aloysius College (Autonomous), Mangalore, on Saturday, he said that merely enhancing food production was not enough. “We must ensure its safety, reduce post-harvest losses and facilitate fair distribution. In 20 years, an additional 60 to 70 million tons of food grains will be required annually to feed the increasing population. A significant portion of this requirement can be met by cutting down the post-harvest losses,” he said.
“India's population will rise to 1.5 billion by the year 2050 and we must plan to have a multi-fold rise on the generation of electricity. The country's fossil fuel reserves will be exhausted in the next few decades, and renewable energy sources such as hydro, wind and solar along with nuclear will be the options in the long-term for growth and sustainability,” he said.
He told the graduating students that if the targets of eradication of poverty, higher level of life standards and health, education and power for all were to be achieved in a short period, it was the power of the youth which had to rise to the challenge.
Graduation
A total of 1,452 graduates, including 964 under-graduates, 433 post-graduates and 54 post-graduate diploma holders, passed out from the institution this year. Rank-holders and few others were handed over their graduating certificates at the graduation ceremony.
In his presidential address, president of Mangalore Jesuit Educational Society Fr Francis Serrao said that values like concern, commitment and competence should be sought after by individuals rather than power and profit, and urged the students to follow their goals with perseverance.
Rector of St Aloysius Institutions Fr Denzil Lobo administered the graduating oath to the students. Principal of St Aloysius College Fr Swebert D'Silva welcomed the gathering and introduced the chief guest.
Members of the governing council and deans of the various faculties were also present on the dais with the dignitaries.
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