Mumbai Beat

15 eminentpersonalities felicitated

Governor Dr P C Alexander felicitated eminent persons from the state for their contribution in different fields, at a function organised by the Vasantrao Naik Agricultural Research and Rural Development Foundation at Raj Bhavan on Saturday.

Among the 15 distinguished persons felicitated include BARC scientists Dr. Anil Kakodkar and M S Ramkumar, film personality Sulochana, architect Hafiz Contractor and cardiologist Dr Nitu Mandke. A souvenir was released by Ackama Alexander on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion the governor said that in spite of various handicaps faced by farmers of the state such as less than 15 per cent of land under irrigation, they have excelled in the field especially in horticulture. He said that 40 per cent of the total export of fruits from the country was from Maharashtra adding that the farmers could further increase their income if facilities for cold storage, refrigerated transportation and better packaging could be made available to them.