Farmers are capable human resources even without a degree: Shri Tomar

Union Agriculture Minister unveils the World’s Second Largest Advanced Gene Bank

16^th August, 2021, New Delhi

Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare unveiled the Second Largest Advanced National Gene Bank at the ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi today. Shri Tomar applauded the Indian farmers’ capability to promptly deal with the various challenges in the agricultural sector. Emphasizing on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s vision to benefit the farming community, the Union Minister asserted the Government’s commitment to draft several farmers’ friendly policies and schemes in the direction.

Highlighting the unparalleled contributions of Prof. B.P. Pal, Prof. M.S. Swaminathan and Prof. Harbhajan Singh, Shri Tomar emphasized on the foundation stones laid by them for the protection of crop varieties. Outlining the vividness of Indian traditions, the Union Minister urged to prosper more to ensure a better future for the generations to come. He regarded the National Gene Bank as an advanced step in the direction. Stressing on the need of Biofortified Crops, the Union Minister underlined the Government’s initiatives taken in collaboration with the farmers to efficiently deal with the problems being faced.

Citing the examples of the earlier times when there were no such problems of hunger and food deficit, the Union Minister stressed that with the passage of time, such problems arose to a great extent. This created the demands for special steps to be taken to tackle such problems. “The efficient steps taken-up by the Government in collaboration with the agricultural scientists and farmers have made the country self-reliant in food crops production”, said Shri Tomar.

The Union Minister released the Bureau’s Publications and launched the PGR Map App during the occasion. He also applauded the unparalleled contributions made by Dr. Kuldeep Singh, Former Director, ICAR-NBPGR.

Shri Kailash Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare underlined the benefits of the Advanced National Gene Bank equipped with latest technologies for the agriculture and farming community. The Minister asserted the government’s commitment to realize the vision of the Prime Minister to make the farmers self-dependent.

In his welcome address, Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR) outlined the Bureau’s activities and achievements.

Dr. Tilak Raj Sharma, Deputy Director General (Crop Science), ICAR along with the senior officials of ICAR-NBPGR and Staff Members were also present during the occasion.

(Source: Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi)