ICAR Institutes across India Celebrate Kisan Diwas 2025, Reaffirming Commitment to Farmer Empowerment

23 December 2025

Kisan Diwas, observed annually on 23 December, commemorates the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Shri Chaudhary Charan Singh, a visionary leader and unwavering champion of farmers’ welfare. The occasion honours the pivotal contribution of farmers to national food security, rural livelihoods, and the country’s socio-economic development.

Kisan Diwas 2025 reaffirms India’s commitment to empowering farmers through science-led agriculture, innovation, climate resilience, and inclusive growth, emphasizing the critical role of research, extension, digital technologies, and sustainable practices in enhancing farm productivity and resilience.

The observance highlights the need to strengthen farmer-centric institutions, promote natural resource conservation, encourage youth participation in agriculture, and advance the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat through a prosperous and sustainable agricultural sector.

On this occasion, ICAR institutes across the country celebrated Kisan Diwas, bringing together stakeholders from across the agricultural ecosystem to honour farmers, share knowledge, showcase innovations, and renew collective resolve towards building a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready Indian agriculture.

ICAR–Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad

Dr. C. Tara Satyavathi, Director, ICAR–IIMR, highlighted the crucial role of farmers in nation-building and food security, emphasizing millets as climate-resilient and sustainable crops for dryland and rainfed regions. She underscored their nutritional superiority, low input needs, resilience to climatic stresses, and importance for household nutrition and food system sustainability, and encouraged adoption of improved production technologies, scientific post-harvest management, and value addition to enhance productivity and profitability.

Scientists from ICAR–IIMR interacted with farmers, showcasing the institute’s efforts across the millet value chain, including improved varieties, capacity building, field demonstrations, and support for processing and value addition. An exposure visit to NutriHub and the Shree Anna Processing & Training Unit familiarized farmers with modern processing, packaging, and enterprise models.

About 250 stakeholders, including farmers from Sangareddy district, participated in interactive sessions and received technical guidance on market-oriented millet production and value addition.

ICAR–Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Zone VI, Guwahati

Addressing the gathering, Dr. G. Kadirvel, Director, ICAR–ATARI, Zone VI, Guwahati, highlighted the significance of National Farmer’s Day in recognizing farmers’ contribution to food security and rural development, and emphasized the promotion of sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture. He stressed the importance of timely access to technology, skill development, and institutional support, with a focus on empowering small and marginal farmers through capacity building, frontline demonstrations, and convergence of schemes.

Dr. Kadirvel also outlined the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025, highlighting its role in strengthening rural livelihoods. The programme featured insights from senior officials and witnessed active participation of scientists, consultants, and staff of ICAR–ATARI, Guwahati.

ICAR-Directorate of Cashew Research, Puttur

The programme began with remarks emphasizing the importance of livelihood-oriented interventions for tribal communities and the role of such initiatives in socio-economic upliftment. Participants were briefed on the “Viksit Bharat – Guarantee Rozgar and Ajeevan Mission”, focusing on employment generation and livelihood security.

Technical sessions covered scientific cashew cultivation, benefits available under the Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) scheme, and value addition from cashew apple, along with information on entrepreneurship support through the Agri Business Incubation (ABI) Centre. To support livelihoods, agricultural inputs including chainsaws, sprayers, palm climbers, and spray hoses were distributed to beneficiary households.

The programme effectively combined capacity building, awareness creation, and input support, reinforcing the Directorate’s commitment to inclusive agricultural development and livelihood enhancement of PVTG communities.

A total of 40 participants, including farmers and ST promoters, attended the programme.

ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad

During the programme, webcasting of Agriculture Minister’s address was arranged where Shri Bhagirath Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare highlighted VB G RAM G Act Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), introduced in December 2025 the updated, rebranded, and revamped version of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), where in, employment guarantee was enhanced from 100 to 125 days per rural household.

ICAR–National Institute of Natural Fibre Engineering and Technology, Kolkata

Addressing the gathering, Dr. D. B. Shakyawar, Director, ICAR–National Institute of Natural Fibre Engineering and Technology, Kolkata, emphasized that farmers are the backbone of the nation and play a pivotal role in taking India forward on the global platform towards becoming a developed country. He highlighted the immense potential of Indian farmers to transform the global agricultural landscape and stressed the need for more government initiatives and projects aimed at the welfare of the farming community. He also underscored ICAR–NINFET’s significant contributions through its groundbreaking technologies and reiterated the Institute’s unwavering commitment to serving farmers.

ICAR–Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar

Dr. Mridula Devi, Director, ICAR-CIWA, in her address, acknowledged vital contribution of farmers to national food security and livelihoods, emphasizing the importance of scientific farming, climate-resilient technologies, and women’s empowerment, and reaffirmed the Institute’s commitment to strengthening research, extension, and capacity building for sustainable and inclusive agricultural development.

The Director further emphasized that the G-RAM G Bill marks an important step towards strengthening rural livelihoods by ensuring enhanced employment opportunities, creating durable assets, and promoting inclusive rural development.

On this occasion, a Farmer–Scientist Interaction Meet was also organized at the Institute to create awareness about the women friendly technologies and various Govt. Schemes and policies in agriculture and allied sectors.

ICAR-National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Baramati

Dr K. Sammi Reddy, Director, ICAR-National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, in his address, highlighted the evolution of rural employment needs over the past two decades and underscored how the proposed Bill seeks to strengthen income security, accountability, and durable asset creation in rural areas. He stressed the importance of awareness generation among farmers to ensure informed participation in national development programmes.

The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation by more than 200 participants, including 143 farmers (96 male and 47 female). The event served as an effective platform for farmer-scientist interaction and contributed significantly to raising awareness about reforms in rural employment and livelihood security.

ICAR–National Research Centre on Mithun, Medziphema, Nagaland

On the occasion a training programme on Scientific Duck and Poultry Management cum Input Distribution was organized today at ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Hailakandi. The programme was conducted by ICAR–National Research Centre on Mithun in collaboration with ICAR–KVK, Hailakandi, under the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP).

A total of 176 farmers participated in the programme, comprising 94 men and 84 women. Under the SCSP intervention, 50 Scheduled Caste beneficiaries were supported with the distribution of ducklings, chicks, and poultry feed to promote livelihood enhancement through scientific poultry and duck farming.

The programme also created awareness about the GRAM G Scheme (Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission – Gramin) and highlighted the significance of Kisan Diwas, emphasizing the pivotal role of farmers in rural development and food security. The initiative focused on capacity building, income generation, and sustainable livelihood development of farming communities.

ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi

ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute observed Kisan Diwas (National Farmers’ Day) at its Kochi headquarters and regional centres through farmer-centric training and awareness programmes.

At Kochi, a training programme involving around 45 farmers focused on mariculture technologies, entrepreneurship, and innovative feeding practices. The programme was inaugurated by Dr. Grinson George, Director, ICAR–CMFRI, followed by input distribution under the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP). A panel discussion on the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act examined its implications for fisheries and allied sectors.

Kisan Diwas was also observed at ICAR-CMFRI’s centres at Mumbai, Tuticorin, Karwar, Mandapam, Visakhapatnam, Mangalore, Chennai, Vizhinjam, Digha and Calicut, featuring farmer–scientist interactions, workshops on climate-smart mariculture, seaweed farming discussions, farmer felicitation, and demonstrations of marine cage farming. Several centres joined the national-level online Kisan Diwas programme organised by ICAR.

ICAR-Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Manipur Centre

ICAR–Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Manipur Centre, in collaboration with the AICRP on Mushroom, Manipur Centre, organized Kisan Diwas–cum–National Mushroom Day 2025 on the theme “Mushroom as Functional Food.” The programme was conducted with the support of AICRP on Seed (Crops), ICAR–KVKs (Churachandpur, Imphal West, Ukhrul, Chandel and Tamenglong), TSP, and Agri-Business Incubation, Manipur Centre.

The Chief Guest, Shri K. Debadatta Sharma, Director, Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation, Government of Manipur, stressed the expansion of mushroom cultivation for its health benefits, year-round production potential, employment generation, and agro-waste management, particularly in Manipur. The role of ICAR Manipur Centre in promoting mushroom technologies across the state was also appreciated.

The Guest of Honour, Dr. Ng. Iboyaima Singh, Dean, College of Food Technology, Lamphelpat, highlighted the importance of food processing and value addition, describing mushrooms as a protein-rich, low-fat superfood with significant medicinal and immune-boosting benefits.

Delivering the welcome and keynote address, the Senior Scientist and Principal Investigator, AICRP on Mushroom, highlighted the Centre’s contributions to mushroom research, development, and extension in Manipur. He emphasized the role of mushrooms as functional foods, offering health benefits beyond basic nutrition.

A total of 38 stalls were set up during the exhibition, comprising 16 mushroom growers, 10 food processing entrepreneurs, 8 SHGs (vegetable growers), 2 progressive fish farmers, and 2 AICRP units (Mushroom and Seed–Crops) from both valley and hill districts of Manipur. 

The exhibition showcased a range of products, technologies, and innovations and was attended by 375 farmers, entrepreneurs, mushroom growers, and buyers from across the state.

(Source: Respective ICAR Institutes)