Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Inaugurated the International Hostel -Madhumaas at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi

3rd July 2023, New Delhi

On the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima today, an International Hostel ‘Madhumaas’ at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi equipped with modern amenities was inaugurated by Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar.

Shri Tomar appreciated ICAR-IARI team for making significant contributions in research, education and teaching. He said that the whole world respects the contribution of IARI towards the attainment of food security by the country. Keeping in view, the international education of the institute and the increasing enrolment rate of students, student-centric hostels with high-quality facilities and international standards are being constructed with the valuable help of the Government of India. The Minister urged that in Amrit Kaal, the Institute has to step forward to make itself a global university with high standards of education and research in the field of agriculture and this International Hostel will be an apt step towards realizing this dream. He highlighted the challenges including climate change and increasing food demand being faced by agriculture and the increased responsibilities of the scientists but also showed his trust that IARI will succeed in addressing these issues.

Shri Kailash Chaudhary, Union Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, said the International Hostel will help IARI to develop as a multi-disciplinary university with global standards. He accentuated that advanced crop varieties and technologies developed by the institute have contributed towards the realization of food and nutritional security in India. He congratulated the Director, IARI for starting the UG programmes in 4 subjects including B.Sc. (Agriculture), B.Tech. (Agriculture Engineering), B.Tech. (Biotechnology), and B.Sc. (Community Science) in which 158 national level students have been enrolled. He said that it will help to develop quality manpower for higher education and at the same time, the presence of young students will make the campus more vibrant. He urged that the students who have been admitted in the Institute should learn the new techniques and implement them in their own villages to ensure enhanced food production and productivity.

Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR), in his welcome address, highlighted the role of ICAR in the implementation of New Education Policy -2020 and the glorious contributions of IARI in strengthening the agricultural research, education, and extension in India. He exhorted that IARI’s contributions have been phenomenal in various dimensions of the agricultural development in the country.  Dr. Pathak said IARI alumni have been honored with prestigious awards like World Food Prize as well as Padma Awards besides several coveted positions in International Organizations. IARI has made significant contributions to food security through the development of improved varieties and technologies, while Basmati and paddy varieties account for more than 90 percent of export and wheat varieties account for more than 50 % production of wheat in India, he added.

The hostel can accommodate 504 students and includes 400 single-bedded rooms; 56 single-bedded rooms with bathrooms and kitchen; and 48 family apartments. The hostel complex has Food Court, Gymnasium, Restaurant, Solar Energy System, Rain Water Harvesting System, Generator Based Power Back Up, Wi-Fi Network, R. O. etc.

Dr. T.R. Sharma, DDG (Crop Science), Dr. R.C. Agrawal, DDG (Agricultural Education), Dr. D.K Yadav, ADG (Seeds), Sh. A. K. Gupta, ADG- CPWD, Dr. Anupama Singh, Dean and Joint Director (Education), Dr. R.N Padaria, Joint Director (Extension), Sh. Pushpendra, Registrar and Joint Director (Administration). Also graced the occasion.

Dr. A. K. Singh, Director, ICAR-IARI while delivering the vote of thanks highlighted that such arrangements will attract foreign and expatriate students.

The dignitaries also planted trees on the premises of the hostel and visited the facilities of the hostel.

(Source: ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi)