Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela - 2020 concludes on a successful note!

3^rd March, 2020, New Delhi

The three-day Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela organized by the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi on the theme entitled “Agricultural Technologies of Pusa Institute for achieving Sustainable Agricultural Development Goals” concluded on a successful note today.

The Chief Guest, Shri Kailash Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare accentuated on the pivotal role of new and innovative farm technologies in doubling the farmers’ income. The Minister stressed on providing the farmers with the demonstration of the modern technologies and crop varieties timely as it would help to win their confidence. Shri Choudhary highlighted about the Central Government’s various schemes namely - Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Soil Health Cards Scheme, Organic Agriculture and Traditional Agriculture Development Scheme (Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana), Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi that are aimed to empower and enhance the farmers’ income by 2022.

Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR) urged the farmers for sharing their successful journey to encourage other farmers. He applauded the farmers’ and scientists’ efforts for achieving the record production of agricultural and horticultural crops. Dr. Mohapatra also appreciated the Pusa Institute’s role in providing the good quality and high yielding crop varieties across the country.

Dr. A.K. Mishra, Chairman, Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board, New Delhi emphasized on the government’s endeavors and efforts to reverse the trend of attracting the youths to adopt agriculture as their career options. He also urged for the need for a collective action in farming for better marketing, input purchase and availing the institutional facilities. Dr. Mishra highlighted the importance of livestock along with agriculture for better income and environmental sustainability.

Dr. Ramesh Chand, Member, NITI Ayog urged to be prepared for the changes in agriculture.

Dr. R.C. Agrawal, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Education), ICAR; Dr. J.P. Sharma, Joint Director (Extension), ICAR-IARI along with the other dignitaries were also present during the occasion.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh, Director, ICAR-IARI applauded the winners for their contributions towards agricultural development and food and nutritional security in the country.

A total of 5 farmers were felicitated with the “ICAR-IARI Fellow Farmer Award” and 39 Progressive Farmers including 5 women farmers with “ICAR-IARI Innovative Farmer Award” during the occasion.

The various farmers and agricultural scientists from across the country participated and exhibited the farmers’-friendly technologies, innovations and products during the Mela.

The various ICAR Institutes, State Agricultural Universities, Private Agencies, Voluntary Organizations and Innovative Farmers displayed their technologies and products in around 270 stalls put up during the Mela. The occasion also marked the selling of seeds worth Rs. 45 Lacs.

The Mela registered a total footfall by around 80,000 farmers across the country.

(Source: ICAR-Directorate of Knowledge Management in Agriculture, New Delhi)