5 June 2026, New Delhi
Marking World Environment Day 2026, three major facilities at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi were inaugurated by Dr M.L. Jat, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR today. The newly inaugurated facilities include the Next Generation Agricultural Extension Learning Centre (NAEL Centre) at the Division of Agricultural Extension, the Processing Laboratory at the Division of Food Science and Postharvest Technology, and the Climate Resilient Green Agriculture (CARIGAR) Lab at the Division of Environmental Sciences.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Jat emphasized the importance of technology-driven solutions in agriculture and highlighted the role of digital learning platforms, advanced processing technologies, and climate-resilient innovations in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047. He appreciated the efforts of the concerned divisions in developing cutting-edge facilities that will strengthen agricultural education, capacity building, entrepreneurship, and sustainable agricultural development.
The inauguration programme was attended by Dr D. K. Yadava, Deputy Director General (Crop Science), ICAR; Dr Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director, ICAR-IARI, Senior dignitaries from IARI, scientists, students, industry partners, and other distinguished guests.
The NAEL Centre, established under an ICAR Education Division-funded project, represents a significant step towards digital transformation in agricultural education and extension. The project has developed 25 bilingual e-learning modules and 9 immersive Virtual Reality (VR) modules covering agricultural extension, climate-smart agriculture, integrated pest management, post-harvest management, communication skills, data analytics, entrepreneurship, and experiential learning. These resources are designed to provide interactive and immersive learning experiences for farmers, students, extension personnel, and agricultural educators. On the occasion, the ICAR-IARI Campus Walkthrough (360-Degree Virtual Tour) was also launched, showcasing the institute’s research infrastructure, educational facilities, and technological achievements through an immersive virtual platform.
The Processing Laboratory, with financial support of ₹1.13 crore from the ICICI Foundation, has been equipped with modern food processing technologies for training, demonstration, and product development. The facility will provide hands-on training to farmers, rural youth, and entrepreneurs in food processing, value addition, and development of innovative food products. The laboratory is expected to promote agri-entrepreneurship, reduce post-harvest losses, and contribute towards enhancing farmers’ income through value-added agricultural products.
The Climate Resilient Green Agriculture (CARIGAR) Lab, funded by the ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, has been established to strengthen research and innovation in climate-resilient and sustainable agricultural technologies. The laboratory will support advanced research on climate adaptation strategies, resource conservation, carbon management, and environmentally sustainable agricultural practices, contributing to resilient farming systems and long-term agricultural sustainability.
Earlier in the day, as part of the World Environment Day 2026 celebrations, the dignitaries participated in a special tree plantation drive under the theme “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam”, reaffirming ICAR’s commitment towards environmental conservation and sustainable development.
The three newly inaugurated facilities are expected to serve as national centres of excellence, fostering innovation, skill development, climate resilience, and technology-enabled agricultural transformation for the benefit of farmers, students, researchers, and extension professionals across the country.
(Source: ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi)
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