84th Foundation Day of ICAR and ICAR Award Ceremony

Dr. Kalam suggested research missions for sustainable growth in agriculture

New Delhi, 16th July 2012

“There is a need to carry out research on how the small and marginal farmers can come together through the intervention of KVK and form rural cooperatives in their areas so that integrated farming including agro-processing can be carried out which will lead to value added products and enhance the revenue earning ability of bottom of the pyramid farmers”, said Bharat Ratna Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India here today.

He was delivering Foundation Day Lecture on 84th Foundation Day of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and ICAR Award Ceremony. While congratulating ICAR for transforming India into a self sufficient nation in foodgrains, he suggested research missions for ICAR (2012-2030) for accelerating the growth and increase the productivity to achieve 10% growth rate in agriculture. Dr. Kalam suggested eight research missions which include development of farm practices for small and marginal farmers, analyzing and mapping of natural resources and documentation of all the agricultural technologies. ICAR can develop a self-coordinating mechanism for achieving this goal as an organizational development mission, he added.

Shri Sharad Pawar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Food Processing Industries and Chief Guest of the ceremony, while appreciating contributions of ICAR in ensuring food security of the country, congratulated award winners and hoped that the recognitions will inspire other colleagues to strive harder towards achieving excellence. To advance pro-poor agricultural R&D, it is required that both, the private and public sector research and development organizations, focus on pooling resources and work collaboratively for harnessing the synergies, said Shri Pawar.

Shri Harish Rawat, Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Food Processing Industries and Parliamentary Affairs and Guest of Honour elaborated several path breaking achievements of ICAR which have paved way for a quantum jump in production of various agri-commodities. In order to make knowledge and skills a vehicle for agricultural transformation, capacity and capability building of rural people, through vocational education is imminent, he said.

Dr. Charan Das Mahant, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries and Guest of Honour hoped that development and dissemination of agricultural technologies will go a long way in enhancing the agricultural production and farmers profitability. He expressed his concern for unwarranted losses of valuable farm produce and suggested that a higher research priority should be accorded to secondary agriculture to avoid such losses.

Shri Pawar, Shri Rawat and Dr. Mahant gave away ICAR Awards 2011 having 83 awardees under 16 different categories. These comprise three institutions, one AICRP, nine KVKs, nine farmers, one journalist, four teachers and 56 scientists. Among 56 scientists there are five women scientists.

Dignitaries released valuable knowledge and information products of ICAR in both print and digital formats.

Earlier, Dr. S. Ayyappan, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR welcomed dignitaries, guests, awardees and participants and presented a brief account of R&D preparedness of ICAR to face the future challenges. He also pointed out the major paradigm shifts and novel approaches for the 12th plan being prepared by the ICAR.

Members of Parliament, senior bureaucrats, renowned agriculture experts, senior officials of ICAR and other related organizations participated in the ceremony.

Dr. Ravindra Kumar, Assistant Director General (TC) proposed vote of thanks.

(Source: NAIP Mass Media Project, DKMA, ICAR)