Calling upon young agricultural graduates to become innovators and entrepreneurs rather than job seekers, Srikant Suryanarayan, Managing Director, Ishka Renewable Farms Pvt. Ltd., said that India’s next phase of growth would be driven by a Food Revolution, making agriculture one of the country’s most strategic sectors in the coming decades.

He was delivering the Graduation Address at the Graduation Day of Kumaraguru Institute of Agriculture (KIA), Erode, held on Saturday, where 440 graduates from the B.Sc. Agriculture and B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture programmes of the 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 batches were awarded their degrees in the presence of parents, faculty members, alumni and invited guests.

Describing the graduates as “India’s Future Food Warriors,” Srikant said agriculture has evolved far beyond cultivation and today encompasses an integrated ecosystem involving seed technology, crop production, food processing, packaging, logistics, branding, exports and digital innovations. While the Green Revolution ensured food security, the country must now focus on value addition, nutrition, global competitiveness and rural entrepreneurship, he said.

Highlighting the rapid technological transformation of agriculture, he observed that the sector has already witnessed three major revolutions—Mechanisation, the Green Revolution and the Digital Revolution—and is now entering the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI-powered crop monitoring, disease diagnosis, irrigation management, autonomous farm machinery and satellite-based advisory systems would soon become indispensable tools for farmers, enabling higher productivity and efficient resource management, he noted.
Referring to India’s growing nutritional and food security challenges, he said the country should move beyond producing larger quantities of food and instead concentrate on producing high-quality, nutrition-rich and value-added agricultural products. Strengthening Farmer Producer Organisations, promoting cooperative farming models and encouraging technology adoption would play a vital role in enhancing farmers’ income, he added.

Urging graduates to think beyond conventional employment, Mr. Srikant advised them to become problem-solvers capable of creating enterprises and generating employment opportunities. He stressed that future employers would value graduates with technological competence, communication skills, leadership qualities and the ability to solve practical challenges.

Sharing experiences from his entrepreneurial journey, he said innovation, perseverance and long-term thinking had enabled him to transform barren lands into productive farms and establish successful agricultural enterprises despite numerous challenges. He encouraged the graduates to contribute towards building a stronger India by 2047 through sustainable agriculture, innovation and rural transformation.

“Never apologise for choosing agriculture. One day the world will recognise that you have chosen one of the most important professions,” he told the graduates while congratulating them.

Presenting the Academic Report, the Principal highlighted the remarkable academic, research and extension achievements of the institution. He said Kumaraguru Institute of Agriculture has emerged as one of the country’s leading agricultural institutions, with eight batches of graduates successfully completing their studies since its inception.

He stated that nearly 20 per cent of KIA graduates have pursued higher education, with 111 students securing admission to reputed institutions across the country. Notably, two students from the 2024 batch joined the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for MBA programmes.

The institute has also recorded significant placement achievements. Thirty graduates have secured appointments in Central and State Government services, 37 graduates have joined the banking sector, 117 graduates have been placed in leading private agribusiness and corporate organisations, while 37 graduates have established themselves as successful entrepreneurs.

A major highlight of this year’s Graduation Day was the participation of Ms. Saranya S., IAS, who secured All India Rank 125 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination. A proud alumna of the institution, she officially received her degree along with her graduating batch during the ceremony.

To encourage more students to enter the Civil Services, the Principal announced that the institute has recently launched a UPSC coaching programme in collaboration with Aram IAS Academy.

The Principal also highlighted the institution’s growing international and research footprint. Recently, eight students, accompanied by the Vice Principal, participated in an international academic exposure visit to Thailand. Faculty members have secured several externally funded research projects, published high-impact scientific papers and obtained three patents, while 13 student research projects have received external funding. The institution has also secured the prestigious e-YUVA programme from BIRAC to promote innovation and agri-startups.

Emphasising entrepreneurship, he noted that three student startups have received financial assistance under the RKVY-RAFTAAR and MANAGE initiatives. KIA has also established a Pre-Incubation Centre to nurture innovative agricultural enterprises among students.

Highlighting the institute’s extension activities, the Principal said KIA has been conducting need-based training programmes for farmers and regularly supporting the State Department of Agriculture by serving as a resource institution for capacity-building programmes. The institute has also successfully organised the Certificate Course on Modern Sugarcane Production Technology in collaboration with Sakthi Sugars and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, benefiting sugar industry personnel.

On faculty development, he said nearly 60 Faculty Development Programmes have been organised covering teaching-learning methodologies, mentoring, outcome-based education, systematic literature review and research. Students have also excelled in sports, National Service Scheme (NSS) activities and leadership initiatives through the institution’s NCC unit.

The Graduation Day commenced with the academic procession. The Correspondent declared the Graduation Day open, following which degrees were conferred upon the graduates. The ceremony concluded with the administration of the graduates’ pledge and the formal dissolution of the Graduation Day by the Correspondent.