The School of Agricultural Sciences (SAS), Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus, celebrated its 31st Annual Fresher’s Social on September 18 at the Multi-purpose Hall. The programme was organised by the Nagaland University Students’ Union, Medziphema Campus (NUSU-M) to warmly welcome newly admitted students of the undergraduate, postgraduate, vocational and Ph.D programmes.
The programme was chaired by Dr Malini B Sharma, Associate Dean Students’ Welfare, and began with an invocation by Ilungding Nsa, President, Evangelical Union, NU:SAS.
Prof Pauline Alila, Dean, SAS, delivered the welcome address and exhortation, welcoming the freshers and encouraging them as they embarked upon a new phase of their academic journey. The Evangelical Union also presented a melodious male-voice performance, adding to the celebratory atmosphere.
During the programme, several dignitaries and officials, including the Dean, SAS:NU, Associate Dean Students’ Welfare, Director of the Central Institute of Horticulture (CIH), Principal of IETC, Director of Agri Expo, District Agriculture Officer, Chümoukedima and District Agriculture Officer, Niuland, were felicitated.
Representing the freshers, Sagarika D Rangkha (B.Sc Ag), Tithong T (BVoc), Meyushapong Longkumer (PG) and Ngangom Nonglem (Ph.D) shared a few words and expressed their gratitude for the warm welcome extended to them.
The programme was graced by Mhathung Yanthan, Advisor, Agriculture, Government of Nagaland, as the Chief Guest. Addressing the gathering, he warmly welcomed the new students and described the Medziphema Campus as his “second home.” He appreciated the students dressed in traditional attire and observed that it beautifully reflected the rich cultural diversity of the campus, which brings together students from different parts of the North-East as well as other regions of the country.
He reminded the freshers that although they came from different places and backgrounds, they were now part of a larger agricultural fraternity. Sharing experiences from his own academic and professional journey, he recalled pursuing his undergraduate studies in Haryana and postgraduate studies in Odisha. He also spoke about his years of service in the Agriculture Department and Land Resources, his retirement as a Director in 2016, and his subsequent responsibilities in the agriculture and horticulture sectors.
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Highlighting the expanding scope of agriculture, Yanthan emphasised that agriculture is much more than the production of food and is closely connected with livelihoods, technology, entrepreneurship and the economy. He encouraged the students to appreciate and learn from the rich biodiversity of Nagaland and consider themselves fortunate to study agriculture in a region endowed with diverse natural and agricultural resources.
A key message of his address was the need for young graduates to look beyond government employment and explore entrepreneurship and start-ups. He encouraged students to aspire to become job creators in addition to job seekers. Referring to the rapid transformation of agriculture, he highlighted emerging areas such as precision agriculture, nanotechnology and drones, along with opportunities in research, entrepreneurship and various government programmes.
He further emphasised that agricultural learning should not remain confined to classrooms and textbooks. Students, he said, must engage with fields, farms, villages and farmers to develop a deeper understanding of agriculture. He noted that farmers with decades of field experience possess valuable practical knowledge and stressed the importance of combining such experience with scientific and academic learning.
The Chief Guest encouraged the freshers to make the best use of their time at the university, remain open to new knowledge and technologies, and use their education to contribute meaningfully to agriculture and the farming community.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Mhachen T Yanthan, President, NUSU-M, followed by a photography session and lunch.
