By Abdul Gani, TwoCircles.net,
Guwahati: Padma Bhushan awardee eminent scientist Asis Dutta and former Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University urged upon the youths of the northeast to focus on agricultural and farm products for the development of region in the real sense.
An Expert in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Prof. Dutta who was on a visit to University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM) located at 9 Mile on Tuesday said that with the region being extremely fertile, technology can be used to avail maximum profit. “What really matters at the end of the day is your contribution to the society. And Northeast being very fertile area, one can contribute in its growth by bringing in new techniques in its agricultural sector,” he said after interacting with the students.
Prof Asis Dutta during his visit to USTM campus in Guwahati on Tuesday.
He also encouraged the students to take interests towards Genetically Modified (GM) crops, so that they can feed not only their countrymen but people all over.
“Science is a journey not a destination. The road to success is always under construction. Science means the triumph of human mind over matter, there are therefore no limits to the excellence to which human mind can develop. The quest for excellence is the driving force of human societies and civilizations as much as it is for human individuals and institutions,” he added.
Further Prof. Dutta warned that the coming days will see more demand for the food grains compared to the produce. “The world population will increase to 10 billion by 2050 which will lead to increase in food demand up to1.7 times by 2050. At the same time there will a drastic decline in cultivable land to less than 0.15 hectares per capita. This will lead to crop loss draught, salinity, disease and post-harvest losses. At that time Genetically Modified crops will be the only answer,” he added.
The life time achievement award, Biotech Research Society (2011) added that science and technology add value to society only if they are part of a “national innovation system” and said that all must “Dream to bring Science to Society”.
Along with Prof. Dutta, Dr. P.K.Seth, CEO, Biotechnology Park, Government of Utter Pradesh, Lucknow and Former Director, Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Lucknow also visited the University campus and interacted with the students, scholars and faculty members. Prof. Seth is a biochemical pharmacologist and toxicologist who has made pioneering contributions to the field of Neurotoxicology.
The interactive session was conducted in the presence of all the senior faculty of USTM, including Dr. P.G. Rao, Pro-Chancellor (Honorary), USTM, Dr. C. R. Sarkar, Registrar, USTM, Dr. Aloka Sharma, Dean School of Business Sciences, Dr. Dinesh Baishya, Dean School of Media Sciences and Cultural Studies among others.