The Agricultural Minister was speaking at the inaugural function of agricultural college library here today. On the occasion, he appealed farmers and students to be prepared for growing competition in the agricultural sector.

Like in other sectors of economy, the forces of liberalisation have set stage for competition in agricultural sector too, opined Vikhe-Patil.

It is the duty of the State Government to provide knowhow of latest information and technology in agriculture. Hence, the government took up certain ambitious schemes, one of which, was linking villages with AGRONET, Vikhe-Patil said. The scheme will be given final shape within a month, he added.

The software package will provide latest information on agricultural technology, cropping patterns throughout the country, diseases and deficiencies to which crop often falls prey and remedies to these deficiencies, said Vikhe-Patil to the audience. He appealed the students to adopt certain villages to create awareness among farming community about latest undercurrents in field of agriculture. Vice-chancellor of the Mahatma Phule Agricultural University Dr Y S Nerkar also spoke on theoccasion.