Visakhapatnam/ AMN
American business magnate and co-founder of the Microsoft Corporation and his wife Melinda Gates are all set to participate in an agricultural summit to be held in Visakhapatnam.
The Andhra Pradesh Government in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Bill Gates and Melinda Foundation is organising the three-day agricultural summit here on Wednesday.
Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu are participating in the inaugural on Wednesday and Bill Gates and Melinda in the valedictory function on Friday. Union Agriculture Minister Radhamohan Singh is scheduled to participate in the event.
According to State Agriculture Minister S Chandramohan Reddy, “the objective of the summit is to discuss ways and means to employ cutting edge technologies in agriculture and allied sectors to benefit small and marginal farmers.” There would be panel discussions on the latest technological advances in the fields of agriculture, IT applications and related topics.
It is widely anticipated that Bill Gates may make an announcement of the participation of the foundation in some major project related to agriculture in the State.
It is expected that 300 delegates from all over the world and 500 farmers states as well as 250 students would participate in the event.
An exhibition would be organised with 50 stalls to showcase the latest agri technologies and products of the companies.
There would be a contest for selected startups to come up with solutions to agricultural problems and the best three entries would be given prizes.