Pawar Calls for Robust Agricultural Research

Shri Sharad Pawar has emphasized on greater resources for research and committed team work among scientists and extension professionals to deal with the challenges of food production, malnutrition, poverty, population growth and environment.

Addressing the 82nd Annual General Meeting of ICAR here today the Minister said that research has to generate robust agricultural technologies and innovations that can enhance productivity and incomes while conserving natural resource base for sustainability of the whole development process.

The Minister said, “Understanding of farming systems and the farmers’ resources is critical to design and develop technologies that are acceptable to the resource poor farmers. ICAR laid due emphasis on developing a decision support system tool (DST) to facilitate farmers in deciding the profitable components for farming systems suited to their specific requirements.”

Expressing happiness over ICAR’s key role in providing technological solutions and human resource development to achieve inclusive growth, Shri Pawar said, ICAR’s R&D achievements during the year provide satisfaction, and do point to India’s preparedness to meet both present and future challenges.

Shri Pawar said, release of 52 improved varieties and hybrids of important crops; and production of over 30,000 tonnes of better seeds of different categories will significantly improve crop agriculture in different agro climatic regions of the country.

On cattle front, Shri Pawar referred to relevance of conservation and characterization of genetic resources. He made special mention of establishment of elite herds of important buffalo breeds and characterization of new goat breeds. The Minister said, diagnostic kit DIVA released for differentiating Foot and Mouth Disease infected and vaccinated animals is an innovative technique with potential application. Designation of Project Directorate on Foot and Mouth Diseases as FAO Regional Reference Laboratory for South Asia speaks of our emerging state-of-art laboratory facilities, Shri Pawar added.

-2- Shri Pawar launched Climate Resilient Agriculture Initiative to address abiotic and biotic stresses affecting agriculture on the occasion. He also released ICAR’s Vision 2030 document. The document articulates the strategies to overcome the challenges and tap the opportunities by harnessing the power of science and undertaking boundary less partnership with different stakeholders in food supply chain at national and international level.

Human Resource Development Minister, Shri Kapil Sibal also addressed the meet. In his speech, he stressed on the need for preparing secondary standard syllabi for agriculture skill development in rural areas. He said, it will help arresting migration from villages to cities.