Mumbai, March 15 The Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, awarded the honorary Doctor of Science (DSc) degree to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday for his efforts in promoting digital technology in the agricultural sector.
The current era is defined by technology, and artificial intelligence has a vital role to play in it, said Maharashtra Governor and Chancellor of the state's public universities, Jishnu Dev Varma, who conferred the honorary degree on Fadnavis at the university located in Ahilyanagar.
This was the first public event of Dev Varma after being sworn in as the governor of Maharashtra on Tuesday.
"The honorary degree was awarded to the chief minister in recognition of his efforts in promoting digital technology in the agricultural sector at the 39th Convocation Ceremony of Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri," a statement said.
On the occasion, the governor also awarded degrees to 4,182 graduates, 346 postgraduate degrees, 74 doctoral degrees, and 39 medals to students.
The governor said this was his first public programme in the state, and it was taking place at a university named after the great social reformer and pioneer of women's education, Mahatma Phule.
He recalled that former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri had given the nation the slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan". Later, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee added "Jai Vigyan," and Prime Minister Narendra Modi further expanded it with "Jai Anusandhan".
The present era is the age of technology, and artificial intelligence can play an important role in it, the governor noted.
Since its establishment, the university has produced over 1.5 lakh skilled human resource professionals, developed 320 high-yielding crop varieties and 56 agricultural implements, and transferred 1,925 improved farming techniques to cultivators, he noted.
Human life is incomplete without service to the nation, Verma said, and urged the students to dedicate their lives to serving the country while working in their respective fields.
Maharashtra legislative council chairman Ram Shinde, state agriculture minister and the university's pro-chancellor Dattatray Bharane, other leaders and dignitaries were present on the occasion.