Annamalai University Held Commencement Day for Agricultural Students

As a start of the academic year 2013-14, Annamalai University held a celebration as 'Commencement day', where freshers were welcomed to the Agricultural department. The function was held in the university premises on Monday.

As many as 1,605 students who joined the first year B.Sc. agriculture and horticulture courses in Annamalai University, were given a warm reception by the members of the Faculty of Agriculture and senior students on the "Commencement Day".

Shiv Das Meena, Administrator of Annamalai University addressed the students of the first year B.Sc Agriculture and Horticulture in Chidambaram. He said that they had made a wise decision in taking up the Agriculture/Horticulture courses in the university.

"Chief Minister Jayalalithaa is quite keen on restoring the past glory of the university and giving a chance to the meritorious students to pursue higher education in the university", he said.

"Even in the age of high technology agriculture continued to be the backbone of Indian economy. Though Agriculture was a vital sector, it was facing many problems owing to floods, cyclone and drought which scorched the crop prospects", he added.

He also said that, the Agricultural graduates had many job avenues open to them in government departments, and, the banking and insurance sectors. "The recent trend is that the Agricultural graduates prefer to take Civil Services Examinations and make a mark at that."

RM. Kathiresan, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, said that it was for the first time in the 84-year history of the university that admissions to the professional courses were being made in a transparent manner.

Making an analogy to cultivation, Mr. Kathiresan said, "As good seeds are now being sown the faculty would reap a bountiful harvest." The alumni of the faculty had come to occupy a position of eminence all over the country and abroad.

On the orders of the Chief Minister the entrance examinations were conducted for admission to the professional courses. For the Agriculture/Horticulture courses 6,800 students took the entrance examinations and out of them 1,605 had been selected.

For the remaining 120 seats in the faculty of agriculture, second round of counselling will be held on today.