Patna: The vice-chancellor of Central University of South Bihar (CUSB), K N Singh, on Wednesday said universities must move beyond classrooms and laboratories and address the day-to-day problems faced by society through their expertise.
Workshop on Sustainable Farming
Inaugurating a workshop on “One District One Crop: Doubling farmers’ income for sustainable livelihood in Gaya district,” organised by CUSB’s geography department, he emphasised the need to adopt climate-resilient agriculture and integrated farming systems to ensure optimum yields. He said every region should plan its development around local resources and reduce production costs in the larger interest of farmers.
Government Initiatives Highlighted
Speaking as the chief guest, former Khadi and Village Industries Commission member Manoj Kumar Singh elaborated on the govt’s One District One Product (ODOP) initiative and stressed raising farmers’ income through skill development and value addition. He called for setting up common facility centres for processing, storage and marketing of food grains.
Farmers' Experiences
During the workshop, farmers from Gaya district shared their experiences of mushroom cultivation and the challenges they face in training, marketing and infrastructure. District agriculture officer Sanjeev Kumar informed them about various government schemes, subsidies and support programmes, and discussed opportunities to expand mushroom cultivation in the district.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to link academic research with grassroots needs, ensuring that university resources contribute directly to improving livelihoods. The workshop also served as a platform for knowledge exchange between experts and local farmers, fostering collaboration for sustainable agricultural development in the region.
