Shri Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurates Krishi Vigyan Mela of ICAR-IARI

2^nd March 2023, New Delhi

The three-day Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa was inaugurated by Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare today.

Addressing the gathering, the Agriculture Minister applauded the efforts being made by the Pusa Institute for the welfare of the farmers and called upon the farmers to take maximum advantage of scientific innovations using new technologies.

He said that the mela theme “Nutrition, Food and Environmental Security through Millets or Shri Anna”, is an important topic not only for India but also for the whole world. In this year's Amrit Kaal budget session, the government recognized the importance of millets along with their nutritional as well as economic and environmental value by adorning them with the name "Shri-Ann". Shri Tomar said there are more than 500 startups working in the millet value chain, while the Indian Millet Research Institute has incubated hundreds of startups under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana- RAFTAAR (RKVY-RAFTAAR). Financial assistance has been provided to promote such start-ups.

For export of Indian Millets, the Government of India plans to facilitate participation of exporters, farmers and traders in 16 International Trade Expos and Buyer-Seller Meets (BSMs), he added.

  

The minister emphasized that the use of Pusa Bio-decomposer and Crop Residue Management machinery has enabled better in-situ management of crop residues. In the current year, there has been a drastic reduction of about 31% in the incidents of burning of paddy crop residue. The government has set a target of achieving net zero emissions by 2070. India assumed the presidency of G20 in 2023 with the slogan 'One Earth, One Family, One Future'.

He also told that the Government is making untiring efforts for achieving green energy and management of carbon footprints in agriculture. The government of India will launch a “Self-reliant Clean Plant” program for the availability of disease-free plants. A program to procure excellent quality planting material for high-value horticulture crops will be launched from Rs 2,200 crore.

Digital Agriculture Mission has been started by the government, for the promotion of which Rs 450 crore has been spent. And provision has been made for about 600 crore rupees for the promotion of the agriculture sector.

He visited the live demonstrations, thematic pandal, stalls of different start-ups and interacted with scientists and entrepreneurs.

Shri Tomar felicitated Shri Bhagwan Das with Life-Time Achievement Award. Besides this, he also awarded five farmers namely, Shri Shiv Prasad Sahani of Bihar, Shri Vikas Choudhary of Haryana, Shri. Ashwini Singh Chauhan of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Surendra Awana of Rajasthan and Shri Bansh Gopal Singh of Uttar Pradesh with IARI Fellow farmer Award for the year 2023.

Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR presided over the program. He congratulated the farmers of the country for producing 325 million tonnes of agricultural produce and ensuring the food security of the world, amidst pressing times of Covid-19.

Dr. T. R. Sharma, DDG, Crop Science; Dr. U S Gautam, DDG Agricultural Extension; Dr Sanjay Garg, Additional Secretary (DARE) & Secretary (ICAR); Dr Alka Arora, Additional Secretary (DARE) & Financial Advisor (ICAR); Dr. A.K. Singh, Director, ICAR-IARI; Dr R N Padaria, Joint Director Extension were also present in the inaugural function

At the outset, Dr. A.K. Singh, Director, ICAR-IARI delivered a welcome address.

In Kisan Mela, more than 200 stalls are set up this year, out of which about 40 stalls are dedicated to farmer start-ups for promoting farmer entrepreneurship.

Farmers are visiting the mela in large numbers for purchasing seeds of IARI varieties..

Live telecast of the mela is also made through YouTube channel, so that farmers from all over the country can witness the event, even if they are not physically present in mela. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V9yg7VBNHY)

 Joint Director Extension, ICAR-IARI, Dr. Rabindranath Padaria proposed the formal vote of thanks.

(Source: of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa)