Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) celebrated its 93rd foundation day virtually on 16th July, in which a digital platform to facilitate farmers to get ‘right information at right time’ in their desired language was launched.
As part of the celebration, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar and Union Minister of Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnav jointly launched ‘Kisan Sarathi’, a digital platform for farmers.
Tomar also announced awards in various categories and released the publications of ICAR in the presence of Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala, Union MoS for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Kailash Choudhary and Ms. Shobha Karandlaje.
In his address, Vaishnaw asked the ICAR Scientists to take up research on new technological interventions in the area of transportation of farmer’s crops from their farm gate to warehouses, markets and the places where they want to sell with minimum damage.
The Union IT Minister assured that the Ministry of Electronics and IT and the Ministry of Communications will always be ready to provide all necessary support to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying for the empowerment of farmers. He also mentioned that the Ministry of Railways is making a plan to minimise the time taken for the transportation of crops.
Congratulating the ICAR on its achievements, Tomar urged for a collective approach for developing technologies in effectively solving various problems and challenges of the farming community. He applauded the Council’s initiatives to make the country an exporter of various food crops and ensure nutritional security. He also outlined the active participation by more than 400 Krishi Vigyan Kendras in the “Bharat Ka Amrut Mahotsav” programme initiated by the Council to commemorate 75 Years of India’s Independence.
On the occasion Union Minister Rupala requested ICAR to focus on research for the fisheries sector. He said, just like the soil health card, ICAR can develop a mechanism that helps fish farmers to know about the condition of fishing in particular ocean blocks. He also advised ICAR to develop a digital platform for the animal husbandry and fisheries sector on the model of ‘Kisan Saarathi’.
Union Minister of State Shri Kailash Choudhary and Ms. Shobha Karandlaje also congratulated the ICAR and its scientists for enriching Indian agriculture sector through research and innovations.
Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR) underlined the various activities carried out, working styles and achievements of the Council.
The ICAR conferred 16 Awards in 4 major categories including the “National Award for outstanding contributions for Agricultural Institutes”, “National Award for outstanding contributions in Agricultural Researches”, “National Award for Application of Agricultural Technologies” and “National Award for Innovation and Technology Development by Farmers” during the occasion.
The dignitaries virtually felicitated about 60 Awardees in 16 different categories. The Awards included 4 ICAR Institutes, 1 All India Coordinated Research Project, 4 Krishi Vigyan Kendras, 39 Scientists and 11 Farmers.
Shri Sanjay Agarwal, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India and Shri Ajay Prakash Sahani, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India.
Others present included the Members of Governing Body, Senior Officials of ICAR Headquarters & Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare; Directors of ICAR Institutes; Vice-Chancellors of State Agricultural Universities; Scientists and Staff Members of ICAR were also present on the occasion.