J. Raghotham Reddy Memorial Lecture on 18-10-2019 at University Auditorium, PJTSAU, Hyderabad

Food Processing and value addition would contribute a great extent in doubling the farmer’s income although it is not the only intervention needed. Vice Chancellor of National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and management (NIFTEM) C. Vasudevappa said here on 18-10-2019. Delivering J. Raghotham Reddy Memorial Lecture 2019, organised jointly by Farm and Rural Science Foundation (FRSF) and Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU), he said food losses were very high in the country at 22% to 30% in case of cereals, pulses and oilseeds and 49% to 66% in fruits and vegetables as per Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) statistics. Further, Mr. Vasudevappa stated that there was a need for a comprehensive policy to ensure food value chain for achieving access, quality and safety of food in the country as various initiatives were controlled by multiple ministries and departments aligned to the goal. Speaking at the event, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister of T.S Sri. S. Narsing Rao said the country could not afford to squander the opportunity for initiating mass scale agriculture reforms as the sector had been in a paradoxical situation of surplus production of many food crops but high prices. “Agriculture sector has the potential for over 5% sustainable growth rate for at least a decade and it will also transform the country’s economy ensuring GDP growth rate of 11% to 12% annually”. He opined. Vice Chancellor of PJTSAU Dr. V. Praveen Rao and President of FRSF Sri. Anil Kumar V.Epur also spoke. The Farm and Rural Science Foundation (FRSF) - Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) outstanding performer’s awards were given to six progressive farmers and one journalist (Agriculture Journalism) on the occasion of J. Raghotham Reddy Memorial Lecture, 2019 on 18-10-2019. The awards were given to U. Jagadish Babu of Varni in Nzamabad and M. Krishna Rao of Amadalavalasa in Srikakulam for Agriculture, G. Upender Reddy of Hyderabad and K.V.V. Surya Lakshmi of Rajahmundry in East Godavari for Animal Husbandry, Ashok Katte of Zaheerabad in Sangareddy and T. Ramana of Buttaigudem in West Godavari for Horticulture for their innovative and remunerative farming and allied practices; and B. Chandrashekhar of The Hindu, Hyderabad, for Agriculture Journalism.