Modi visits Australian varsity, gets update on agriculture

Brisbane: Research is the mother of development, visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on an agricultural robot developed by the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) during a visit to the university here Friday.

In his first engagement at Brisbane, where he landed earlier in the day on the second leg of his three-nation visit, Modi visited the QUT.

There was palpable excitement among the student community, which also includes a large number of those of Indian origin.

Modi was asked to write a message on the agricultural robot, and he wrote in Hindi "research is the mother of development", according to a tweet by the ministry of external affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.

Curious students gathered around the robot to read what the Indian prime minister had written.

A translation of the entire message was posted by the university.

It read: "Research is key to development. There is ongoing relationship between development journey of humankind and research. Increasing dominance of science and technology in the field of agriculture will surely prove to be beneficial to farmers and to the field of agriculture as a whole. It is an important endeavour for the welfare of mankind. Best wishes for your effort."

The Agro Robot is a lightweight machine that performs the functions of a large tractor, including weeding.

Modi took a walk around the university to learn more about the agricultural research going on there, including how to enhance the bio-technological processes to fortify bananas with more iron content.

The prime minster also wished the children on Children's Day, celebrated on the birth anniversary of India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

"I am fortunate to be among children on Chacha Nehru's birthday," an MEA tweet cited Modi as saying.

Many researchers of the Indian origin community were seen taking selfies with the prime minister.

Modi met researchers, the student community and got an update on projects focused on bio-fuels, bio-fortification and agro-robotics.

Modi arrived earlier in the day from Myanmar to attend the G20 summit.

He is the first Indian prime minister to visit Australia since Rajiv Gandhi in 1986.

Modi was received at the airport by Queensland Premier Campbell Newman.

Indian High Commissioner in Australia Biren Nanda was present.

In Australia, Modi will attend the G20 summit in Brisbane Nov 15-16 and also hold talks with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott in Canberra during his five-day stay here.

Among his other engagements here Friday is a reported bilateral meeting scheduled with British Prime Minister David Cameron.