Dear members,
The Institution of Maharashtra Agricultural Technologists (IMAT) has completed almost 12 years of its establishment. This organization has been started with a vision of science and technology led growth of agriculture and to serve as a platform for addressing emerging issues about modern agriculture.
IMAT is a group of 1000+ intellectuals from various branches of agriculture which constitutes a "Think Tank" that strives to create knowledge based agrarian society in the state.
IMAT has organised more than 150 free webinars on agriculture, animal husbandry and dairy, fisheries, agri-entrepreneurship, and policy issues with the help of "Kisan Exhibition Team" which has benefitted thousands of farmers and students.
Since 2014 Govt. of Maharashtra has started a unique programme called "Agri hackathon" for knowledge hunting and providing mentorship to young minds with innovative ideas which can be converted into entrepreneurship in agriculture. IMAT is a knowledge partner in this process for screening of thousands of proposals, shortlisting for making showcases and finally identifying winners from 9-10 different themes. Some units from the first hackathon have started their enterprises. IMAT is now in a position to provide mentorship to the winners.
The second hackathon was also a grand success with seamless problems. IMAT has developed capacity to take up certain impact analysis assignments and also provide consultation services. IMAT can also provide inputs to the government for policy framing in the agriculture and allied sectors.
I strongly appeal to the students and agriculture graduates to become members of IMAT to build a strong agrarian society which can serve the farmers of Maharashtra and provide knowledge based inputs to government agencies for policy framing and execution.
I wish my best wishes to all members for the days ahead.
Dr. K. E. Lawande
Former VC BSKKV Dapoli
And
Chairman, IMAT Pune