Celebration Ceremony Marking Two Years of Dr. Ajit Kumar Karnataka as Vice-Chancellor

Udaipur: Dr. Ajit Kumar Karnataka, Vice-Chancellor of Maharana Pratap Agriculture and Technology University, stated that his belief in teamwork has driven the progress of the university over the past two years. Speaking at a celebration event in the CDFT auditorium, he emphasized that individual efforts alone cannot lead to success, no matter how knowledgeable or resourceful one may be.

Dr. Karnataka remarked, “We can create a workplace that feels like home by respecting one another. As the saying goes, 'I started alone towards my destination, but people joined along the way, creating a caravan.' When I first arrived at this university, I was alone; now, after two years, I have a complete MPUAT family of 4,000 people by my side.”

During the event, he highlighted the achievements of the university over the last two years, crediting the collective efforts of university officials and staff for its growing national recognition. The university now operates seven colleges, two regional research centers, two sub-regional research centers, one rain-fed research center, and eight agricultural science centers, all contributing to agricultural development in southern Rajasthan.

He mentioned that under the "Smart Village Initiative" launched by the Honorable Governor, MPUAT has consistently ranked first among state-funded universities in Rajasthan. This recognition is expected to continue, as the university received commendation letters from the Governor's office twice in the past year. Villages like Chhali, Madar, and Barhan are shining examples of this initiative, with the Governor advising other university vice-chancellors to visit these villages. The university is also prepared to adopt five additional villages to develop as smart villages.

Dr. Karnataka expressed his pleasure that a new variety of maize developed by the university, "Pratap Hybrid Maize-6," has been recognized and approved at the national level. This has led to MOUs with eight companies, enhancing the university’s revenue. Additionally, five other varieties including Isbaghol, Asaliya, Ashwagandha, Jowar, and Mangfooli are also being identified for release. Over the past two years, the university has secured 54 patents and achieved 77 H-index scores, showcasing its innovative research capabilities.

The university has also gained national recognition for celebrating the International Year of Millets. It has conducted workshops, awareness rallies, and organized four farmer fairs, in addition to establishing millet huts and developing millet gardens at agricultural colleges, research centers, and KVKs.

Renowned educator and former Vice-Chancellor Prof. Umashankar Sharma praised Dr. Karnataka’s leadership and vision, noting the commendable achievements of MPUAT in just two years. He highlighted Dr. Karnataka's practical approach and his ability to foster an excellent team that produces outstanding results. He expressed confidence that under Dr. Karnataka’s leadership, the university would achieve even greater milestones in the years to come, including the establishment of a KVK in the new district of Salumber.

The program commenced with Dr. Lokesh Gupta, Dean of the Dairy and Food Technology College, welcoming the guests and reflecting on the Vice-Chancellor's personality and contributions. The event was attended by university officials including Secretary Sudhanshu Singh, Controller Vinay Bhati, deans of various colleges, directors, senior scientists, and council members. Dr. Manoj Mahla, Student Welfare Officer, concluded the event with a vote of thanks, while Dr. Nikita Vadhavan served as the host.