A.P. Governor advocates cultivation of oilseeds, pulses to check malnutrition in country

Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer has appealed to farmers to focus more on cultivating pulses and oilseeds, thereby reducing their imports and contributing to the nutritional security of the country.

Participating in the 57^th Convocation of Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), at Atkur village in Krishna district on Thursday (July 24, 2025), the Governor pointed out that Andhra Pradesh was a leading performer with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.8% in agriculture and allied sectors during the 2024-25 fiscal year.

India has achieved a record food grain production of 353.95 million tonnes in 2024, and the country’s agricultural commodities are reaching several countries across the globe, he said.

He stressed the need for maintaining nutritional security and food safety, while increasing the production of food grains.

Former Special Chief Secretary to Government of Punjab, A. Venu Prasad, who was the chief guest for the programme and an alumnus of ANGRAU, Bapatla, said the institute helped him achieving to greater heights in career.

“ANGRAU, located at Lam in Guntur district, is competing with top institutes in the country. Students should select the courses of their choice and excel in the field,” Mr. Venu Prasad said.

Later, the Governor and the chief guest awarded degrees and awards to the meritorious students and the staff.

ANGRAU Vice-Chancellor R. Sarada Jayalakshmi Devi said that established in 1964, the university had so far awarded degrees to 48,352 students, including 36,664 undergraduates, 11,688 post graduates and researchers.

“The university has released 25 new varieties of crops during 2023-24 fiscal year, of which nine were at the State level and 16 at the national level,” Ms. Jayalakshmi Devi said.

Kaikalur MLA Kamineni Srinivas, Krishna district in-charge Collector Geetanjali Sharma, ANGRAU Registrar G. Ramachandra Rao were among the dignitaries who participated in the programme.