Union Minister Releases the book “Vegetable Crops – Improvement and Production”
 

Shri M.V. Rajasekharan, Honourable Union Minister of State for Planning, Government of India released the book entitled ‘Vegetable Crops – Improvement and Production’ authored by Dr. Prem Nath, Dr. V.K. Srivastava, Dr. O.P. Dutta and Dr. K.R.M. Swamy published by the Prem Nath Agriculture Science Foundation, Bangalore on 18th November, 2007 at the Gandhi Krishi Vigyan Kendra (GKVK), University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore during the award’s presenting ceremony of Krishi Mela – 2007 organized by the University.

A book “Vegetable Crops-Improvement and Production” is being released by Shri M. V. Rajasekharan, Hon. Union Minister of State for Planning, Government of India during the award’s presenting ceremony of Krishi Mela-2007 at UAS, Bangalore

Addressing the gathering after release of the book, Shri M.V. Rajasekharan, Chief Guest of the function, appreciated the contributions made by Dr. Prem Nath and the foundation in the field of agricultural research and development and also in the field of food and nutritional security and health care. The present book “Vegetable Crops – Improvement and Production” published by the foundation is yet another contribution in the field of agricultural education and extension added the minister. He further said that this book will be of immense use to students, teachers, and extension workers and farmers.

Speaking from the dais Dr. Prem Nath, Chairman, PNASF, Bangalore thanked the honourable minister for releasing the book and also thanked Dr. P.G. Chengappa, Vice-Chancellor, and all the other authorities of UAS, Bangalore for their kind gesture of release of this book during the Krishi Mela celebrations. Dr. Prem Nath also presented a set of the books to Dr. P.G. Chengappa for the UAS Library and selected students. Shri M.R. Sreenivas Murthy, Principal Secretary, Finance, Government of Karnataka and Shri A. Ramaswamy, Principal Secretary, Agriculture and Horticulture, Government of Karnataka, who were present on the dais also addressed the gathering.

On behalf of Prem Nath Agriculture Science Foundation, Dr. Prem Nath felicitated Shri M.V. Rajasekharan, Dr. P.G. Chengappa, Shri M.R. Sreenivas Murthy and Shri A. Ramaswamy. On behalf of the staff members of the university, Dr. P.G. Chengappa, Vice-Chancellor, UAS, Bangalore also felicitated Dr. Prem Nath on the occasion.

More than 1000 people comprising of farmers, teachers, students and media persons were present on this occasion. In the beginning Dr. P.G. Chengappa, delivered the welcome speech and the function was concluded with the vote of thanks from Dr. G. Eswarappa, Director of Extension, UAS, Bangalore.

The Prem Nath Agricultural Science Foundation, Bangalore place on records the appreciation of the co-operation extended by University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore in providing the former an opportunity on the platform to serve the common cause of students and farmers. Further the PNASF is also pleased to publish the address by Dr. Prem Nath during the occasion in the following paragraphs.
 

Book release

A book entitled “Foods and Nutrition” authored by Dr. K.G. Ahuja, Dr. Prem Nath and Dr. K.R.M. Swamy and published by PNASF and Studium Press, New Delhi was released by Shri S.A. Ravindranath during the International Conference on Horticulture (ICH-2009) was held in Bangalore, Karnataka State, India during November 9, 2009. It was organized by Dr. Prem Nath Agricultural Science Foundation (PNASF), Bangalore in association with Vegetable Science International Network (VEGINET), Bangalore and University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore in collaboration with national and international organizations. being released by Shri S.A. Ravindranath.
 

PNASF Releases the New Book- Horticulture and Livelihood Security
 

The PNASF organized the Release Ceremony of the new book, “Horticulture and Livelihood Security” prepared by PNASF, edited by Prem Nath and P.B. Gaddagimath and jointly published by Scientific Publishers (India), Jodhpur and PNASF, Bangalore on September 25, 2010 at Raj Bhawan, Bangalore. The function was graced by Dr. Hans Raj Bhardwaj, H.E. the Governor of Karnataka as the Chief Guest and Shri Basavaraj S. Bommai, Minister for Medium and Major Irrigation, Government of Karnataka and Shri M.V. Rajasekharan, former Minister of State for Planning, Government of India, New Delhi as the Guests of Honor. Madam Prafulatha Bharadwaj, the First Lady also graced the occasion. More than one hundred lead scientists of agriculture/ horticulture universities and research institutes and senior Government officials of Govt. of Karnataka participated in the release ceremony. Few of the special invitees were: Mr. G.V. Krishna Rau, Principal Secretary, Governors Secretariat, Mr. Abhay Prakash, Former Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner, Dr. G. K. Veeresh, former Vice Chancellor, UAS, Dr. G.K. Vasanth Kumar, Additional Secretary (Food Processing), Bangalore, Dr. P.G. Chengappa, Former Vice Chancellor, UAS, Bangalore, Dr. S.B. Dandin, Vice Chancellor, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Dr. Amrik S. Sidhu, Director, IIHR, Bangalore, Dr. K. Narayana Gowda, Vice-Chancellor, UAS, Bangalore, Dr. K.P. Vasanth Shetty, Director, Indo-American Hybrid Seeds(India), Bangalore, Mr. V. K. Abraham, Director, Institute of Plantation & Horticulture Management, Bangalore, Dr. C.P.A. Iyer, former Director, CISH Lucknow, Bangalore, Dr. P. Parvatha Reddy, former Director, IIHR, Bangalore, Mr. Santosh Attavar, Indo-American Hybrid Seed Co., Bangalore, Dr. N. B. Gaddagimath, M/s Sarpan Agri Horticultural Research Centre, Dharwad, Dr. R.B. Gaddagimath, Gulbarga University, Dr. M. Seenappa, Dr. Rama Prasanna, UAS, Bangalore, Mr. Sadananda Shetty, Bangalore, Dr. B. Raju, Dean UHS, Bagalkot, Dr. M. Mahadevappa, former Vice Chancellor, UAS(D), Dr. K. Santhanam and others.

Addressing the distinguished and elite gathering after release of the book, Dr. Hans Raj Bharadwaj appealed to horticultural and agricultural universities and research institutes involved in agriculture research to intensify their research in horticultural crops for higher yields and increased nutritional values. Even though India is producing fruits and vegetables, the production is far below to meet the requirements of the growing population. In the changing climatic conditions and changing dietary pattern of the people, efforts need to be made to popularise the advanced technologies in optimum utilisation of water, nutrients and high yielding cultivars, said Dr Bharadwaj and called upon the research workers to come out with viable and sustainable production technologies for small and marginal farmers and the peasants. He further appreciated the yeoman services of PNASF, Bangalore in the field of agriculture and allied sectors and wished all the successes in its future endeavours.

In his key note address, Dr. Prem Nath spoke of the growing importance of horticulture in the present and future food and its developing linkage with the livelihood security of people particularly in rural areas.

Shri M.V. Rajasekharan spoke that one billion people around the world were suffering from hunger and malnutrition whereas, about 230 million were plagued by it in India and it was incumbent on us to take steps to overcome this calamity by augmenting food, nutrition and health security. Shri Basavaraj S. Bommai highlighted the role of horticulture in food and its contribution to employment generation and livelihood security and said that there is an urgent need of enhanced investment in the field of horticulture and related sectors by government and other stake holders and more so from the private sector.

On this occasion the PNASF silver medal and certificate award was presented by the Chief Guest, H.E. the Governor of Karnataka to the co-editor of the book, Mr. P.B. Gaddagimath and a certificate to
the co-publisher of the book M/s Scientific Publishers (India), Jodhpur represented by Mrs. Shipra Sharma.

In the beginning Dr. O.P. Dutta welcomed the Chief Guest, the Guests of Honour and distinguished invitees. The ceremony was concluded with the vote of thanks by Dr. K.R.M. Swamy. Ms. Shyamla Nath, one of the trustees of PNASF who actively participated and pioneered the minute-to-minute programme of the function was the Master of the Ceremony.

The Book-Release Ceremony was well covered by the electronic media viz., television and radio and leading newspapers from print media.

PNASF extends grateful thanks to TAC members namely, Dr. O.P. Dutta, Dr. K.R.M. Swamy, Mr. P.B. Gaddagimath and Dr. B.S. Prabhakar and the secretariat staff Ms. Vanita N. Shetty and collaborators for their dedicated efforts and contribution in preparing the book as well as in organizing this function successfully. The support extended by the Board of Trustees is praiseworthy. The trustee Ms. Shyamla Nath participated actively and pioneered the minute-to-minute programme of the function in the dedicated manner.

The moral strength from distance from PNASF/TAC members abroad and dedicated efforts on the ground by the Bangalore-based TAC members have demonstrated the contribution of PNASF in the form of valuable book and established the recognition of PNASF as the premier agricultural institution.
 

About the Book: HORTICULTURE AND LIVELIHOOD SECURITY Edited by: Dr. Prem Nath & Mr. P.B. Gaddagimath ISBN: 978-81-7233-674-5, 2011, 552pp., Rs. 2450/- This time more than 800 million people were suffering from hunger and malnutrition, evidently they had no access to food and now the number of those hungry people has increased to one billion, in spite of efforts to mitigate it. The question is how to access the food to those who have no capacity to have it. The farmers have worked to their capacity within the resources available to produce food, and now it is the turn of the governance of countries to enhance the capacity of the people to access the food for their livelihood. The answer is increased employment and income generation. Thus livelihood has different dimensions and facets, but modern life and living, food has emerged with important components like adequacy, nutrition and health requirements which have been designated as food security, nutrition security and health security. Hence, horticulture is a serious stake holder as described in the present publication.

RELEASE OF THE PNASF NEWS

On this occasion the Inaugural issue of the official News-letter of PNASF; a half yearly publication ' PNASF NEWS' was released by Shri. H.K. Patil, Honorable Minister for Agriculture, Government of Karnataka, who highlighted the importance of this publication.