Mauritian Civil Servants visits ICAR-IARI, New Delhi

6 April 2026, New Delhi

Mid-Career Civil Servants of Mauritius visited the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, under the NCGG Capacity Building Programme today in the afternoon to gain understanding and insights about National Agricultural Research and Education System of India as well as about the pioneering contributions and innovations of the institute. The delegate comprised of officers of various ministries of Mauritius, undergoing training at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand.

Dr Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director, ICAR-IARI, delivered an insightful presentation on the institute’s vision, mission and mandate with a special highlight on its significant contributions in nation’s food security as well as impactful role in global trade of commodities like Basmati rice. He stressed upon the ICAR-IARI’s commitments towards addressing Sustainable Development Goals through agricultural research and technological backstopping. He described about the several state-of-art facilities like the Nanaji Deshmukh Plant Phenomics Centre, Climate Change Research facility, Centre for Protected Cultivation Technology, Sensor and remote sensing based precision farming, Robotics Laboratory. He stressed that crop improvement, climate change adaptation and emission management, precision farming, natural resource management with focus upon soil and water management, green technologies, waste management are the     major areas of on-going research. He presented the agricultural systems of Mauritius and suggested about crop diversification and development of plans for adaptation in areas where there would rise in sea level and submergence of land would be a challenge.

Answering to the queries of the delegates, he suggested to take up the innovations of India, which would be appropriate to their local conditions, rather than re-inventing the wheels. It would save time and money. He briefed them about the structure of ICAR and functioning of various specialized institutes like National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal; Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izzatnagar; Central Institute for Fisheries Education, Mumbai in response to the queries related to animal sciences. Addressing to the observations on gender perspective raised by a delegate, he emphasized that ICAR follows gender responsive policy framework.  He said that ICAR institutes follow demand driven research system, where the stakeholders’, primarily the farmers’, engagement is critical.  He mentioned about the nation-wide Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan to strengthen the connect between scientists and farmers. He also highlighted about the major outreach initiatives such as the Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela, which attracts more than one lakh visitors each year, including farmers, students, and stakeholders from across the country.

The visit began with a welcome address by Dr R. N. Padaria, Joint Director (Extension), ICAR-IARI, apprised them about the historic legacy of the institute as the harbinger of Green Revolution and emphasised its committed pursuance for ensuring India’s food and nutritional security through continuous innovations and capacity building.

The delegates appreciated the role and contributions of ICAR as well as IARI in strengthening India’s agriculture and improving the livelihoods of farmers. They expressed desire to have MOU with ICAR in near future.

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