ICAR - Sugarcane Breeding Institute organizes campaign for school children!

 ICAR - Sugarcane Breeding Institute organizes campaign for school children!

As part of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute organized an awareness campaign for the school children on the theme, “Agriculture and Environment: the Citizen face”. Scientists of the Institute visited 'Premier Vidyaa Vikaash Higher secondary school' in the outskirts of Coimbatore and interacted with them on 25 November 2021.

Dr G. Hemaprabha, Director (A), ICAR-SBI speaks

Dr. G. Hemaprabha, Director of the Institute in her address highlighted the rising opportunities in India and abroad in Agricultural Education. She also mentioned about 'start-ups' in the agricultural sector, which will serve as employment generators and play a pivotal role in agricultural development in future. School students should keep such options as well in mind, while choosing their careers, she said.

Dr. R.Viswanathan, Head, Crop Protection, speaks

Dr. R.Viswanathan, Head, Division of Crop Protection, ICAR-SBI spoke on the academic avenues in the field of agriculture and opportunities in the agriculture sector for employment. He listed out the educational institutions in the country that offer certificate courses, diplomas and degrees in agriculture and their employment opportunities. He also recalled the names of several persons, who had their education in agriculture and went on to excel in other fields.

Dr. D Puthira Prathap, Principal Scientist, conducts the quiz

Quiz programme

The quiz conducted by Dr. D. Puthira Prathap, Principal Scientist of the Institute , for two groups of school children viz., the 'Dr Norman Borlaug' team & 'Dr. M.S.Swaminathan' team, focussed on topics such as popular terms used in various fields that had their origin in farming (such as ‘broadcast’), famous personalities who made a mark in agriculture in the region (such as Shri. C. Subramaniam, the former Union minister), geographical divisions with agricultural significance during the Sangam age, Geographical Indicators relevant to agriculture and the names of harvest festivals across countries.

Interactive session

Enthusiastic participation of children was witnessed throughout the quiz programme.

Quiz prizes being distributed

During the interactive session that followed, scientists answered the queries raised by the school children and teachers on career opportunities in agriculture for Higher Secondary students of Biology stream. Over 150 students and teachers who participated in the campaign, expressed their gratitude to the Institute for enlightening them on various aspects concerning agriculture and environment.

==========