The success of agricultural scientists’ “Lab-to-land” concept is commendable: Shri Parshottam Rupala

Farmers’ Producers’ Organizations play a vital role in resolving challenges faced in agricultural sector: Shri Kailash Choudhary

ICAR organizes 25^th Regional Committee Meeting - II

8^th October, 2020, New Delhi

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi virtually organized its “25^th Regional Committee Meeting - II (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal and Andaman & Nicobar Islands)” here at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi today.

Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare applauded the ICAR’s initiative to organize Regional Committee Meetings for timely and effectively resolving the various problems being faced in the particular regions. The Minister also stressed that with the collaborative efforts of the agricultural scientists, farmers’ hard work and organizing such meetings, the Council can achieve the target of doubling the farmers’ income by 2022.

  

Appreciating the agricultural scientists’ Lab-to-land concept, Shri Rupala urged to strengthen the Krishi Vigyan Kendras for effective resolution of the problems related to seed planting and seed replacement in the region itself. Accentuating the possibility of enhancing the breeds of the indigenous animals in the North-Eastern states, he also urged for promoting the practices of animal husbandry.

Shri Kailash Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare underlined that with regard to the reviews of the previous work plans and recommendations made in the Regional Committee Meetings held after every two years, the future action plans / guidelines for the farmers and agriculture are prepared. He stressed that the diversification of the climate-friendly crops of the region is necessary for overcoming the problems of states / regions prone to the natural disasters during the climate change phase. The Minister also stressed that with the help of New Farmers’ Bills - 2020, the Farmers’ Producers’ Organizations’ can help the farmers to get fair prices for their products.

Shri Choudhary applauded the commendable hard work depicted by the agricultural community to meet the various food grains requirements during the outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic situation in the country. Emphasizing on the important position held by the agricultural sector in terms of tireless efforts of farmers, researches of agricultural scientists, government policies and contribution to GDP, the Minister highlighted the various schemes being run by the Government of India for doubling the farmers’ income and enhancing the production. He also appreciated the ICAR’s inevitable work being done in association with the various Agricultural Universities, KVKs and related Organizations in the field of agriculture.

Shri Singireddy Niranjan Reddy, Minister of Agriculture, Government of Telangana; Shri Arun Kumar Sahu, Minister of Agriculture, Government of Odisha and Shri Kurasula Kanna Babu, Minister of Agriculture, Government of Andhra Pradesh also virtually participated in the meeting.

Outlining the main objectives of the Regional Committee Meeting, Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR) applauded the ICAR Institutes, State Agricultural Universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras’ collective efforts under the supervision of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research to solve the problems of these regions. Urging to promote livestock rearing, horticulture and integrated farming, he also stressed on producing the climate-resilient crops. Suggesting the promotion of palm oil cultivation, the Director General underlined the ICAR’s initiative to provide 92 varieties of paddy, the main crop of the regions, to the farmers.

Dr. Mohapatra regarded the Regional Committee Meetings as a bridge to establish an effective communication between the Central and the State Governments to prepare efficient action plans for the resolution of particular problems in the specific regions.

Shri Sanjay Singh, Additional Secretary (DARE) & Secretary (ICAR) underlined the main objectives of the Regional Committee Meetings.

The dignitaries also virtually released the various ICAR Publications during the occasion.

The Deputy Directors General, Assistant Directors General, Directors of ICAR Institutes, Vice-Chancellors of State Agricultural Universities, Officials of State Government Departments and Krishi Vigyan Kendras virtually participated in the meeting.

Dr. Tilak Raj Sharma, Deputy Director General (Crop Science), ICAR proposed the vote of thanks.

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