Bridging the Gap: Promoting Sustainable Agricultural Practices

The best way to predict the future of agriculture is to create it. - Abraham Lincoln

Bala Krishna Reddy, a recent graduate with a Master's degree in Biotechnology from Bangalore University, has joined an Agri Biotech Company in Hyderabad as a Plant Molecular Biologist. His research interests lie in the field of transgenic plants and the use of biological agents in organic farming, with a specific focus on sustainable agricultural practices. However, he has realized that there is a significant gap between the technology developed in institutions and its implementation in rural India. To bridge this gap and improve livelihoods and create sustainable agricultural practices, he decided to join the SBI Youth for India Program.

Bala Krishna's Research Goals

Bala Krishna will be working with the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation for the next year, where he hopes to address agricultural issues such as soil fertility, agro inputs, crop yield, post-harvest management, branding, and profitable income generation in rural India, with a specific focus on sustainable agricultural practices. He plans to bring "innovation related growth to the field by implementing organic strategies" by bringing the lab to the land and collaborating with institutional bodies for technology implementation, with an emphasis on sustainable agricultural practices.

Challenges and Opportunities

Bala Krishna is aware that working in rural India will be challenging, especially after working in the comforts of the corporate world. However, he is determined to make a difference and is excited about the opportunity to work closely with farmers in their routine activities, with a focus on sustainable agricultural practices. He hopes that this exposure to rural culture will open up various career options in the future such as becoming an entrepreneur, getting involved in CSR activities of companies, or working with an NGO, where sustainable agricultural practices can be promoted. Furthermore, he is also looking forward to learning about the traditional knowledge and local practices that farmers use in their daily activities, which he wants to incorporate in his research and development activities, with an emphasis on sustainable agricultural practices.

Conclusion

Bala Krishna is passionate about using his knowledge and skills to make a positive impact in the lives of rural farmers, with a focus on sustainable agricultural practices. He is determined to bridge the gap between technology and its implementation in rural India and improve livelihoods and create sustainable agricultural practices. He is confident that his involvement in the SBI Youth for India Program will not only be a valuable learning experience but also a step towards his long-term goal of contributing to the development of rural communities through sustainable agricultural practices.