Local educationist takes up farm technology with Canadian minister

Tribune News service

Amritsar, October 17

During his visit to Canada, Global Institutes chairman, Dr BS Chandi, met Navdeep Singh Bains, Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and discussed farming practices based on technology that India could use as one of the largest agro-based economies of the world.

Dr Chandi took up with Canadian minister the matter of innovative role of science and technology in agriculture in order to transform farming in India into a viable economic sector model, especially for farmers of Punjab, who are reeling under debt.

Advanced technological researches in the agro field for India, which urgently require optimal resource management, including water economy in farming, crop rotation and diversification, were also discussed. Chandi is on an education exchange trip to Canada.

The minister said governments of both the countries need a relook at management to support converting diversified crops into cash crops by fixing prices referred to as minimum support price (MSP) in India. “Apart from this, better management of existing cash crops with methods to economise natural resources needs to be worked upon,” he added.

Dr Chandi urged Navdeep to take meaningful initiatives at the Canadian government level in order to develop a mechanism so that economic benefits could reach the grass root level, including the poorest of the poor of developing countries.

“The solution to majority of problems gripping society in India is in the mindset that resists change. This applies to a wide variety of segments of society. Turning the tide and making agriculture sector technologically sound will definitely improve lives of our farmers and generate jobs for youth,” said Dr Chandi.

He also visited of University of Toronto (UoT), University of Pennsylvania (UoP) and the famed Wharton Business School (WBS) to learn about new trends in higher education.

Speaking after the visit, Dr Chandi said he was in Canada to learn about best practices in institutions of higher education so that they could be put into use at local Global Institutes to achieve excellence. He said the work culture and sense of social responsibility in Canada had deeply impressed him. He added that the local institute would try to have more links with industry for research and development projects.

He said, “Our own research centres will be developed to cater to local industrial and agro-industry needs.”