ICAR Organises Online Dialogue with Young Leadres to Shape Youth-Led Agricultural Transformation

15 January 2026, New Delhi

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) organized an Online Dialogue with Young Agri-Leaders today as a follow-up to the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026 in the august presence of Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, and Dr M.L. Jat, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR) held at Bharat Mandapam on January 12, 2026.

Dr M. L. Jat, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR while envisaging this dialogue as a follow-up and consolidation exercise to the interaction held in the august presence of the Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare at Bharat Mandapam highlighted that India’s future in agriculture lies in the hands of its youth, and that young leaders must have a decisive role across the entire process of agricultural transformation. He further informed that the inputs shared during the dialogue would be thematically categorized and deliberated upon in subsequent institutional and national-level discussions. Dr Jat also requested the young leaders to submit their ideas in written form, noting that each idea would be reviewed based on national importance, relevance, scalability, and feasibility, and that the most impactful ideas would be further facilitated and recognized.

Dr J. K. Jena, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Education), ICAR welcomed the dignitaries and participants. He the underlined the role of young leadres as future innovators, entrepreneurs, and policy contributors. He briefed that based on inputs and ideas, the prominent young leaders will be called for a dialogue with the Hon’ble Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan Ji, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India.

The interaction and dialogue session witnessed active participation from young leaders and ICAR officials. Participants shared concise, solution-oriented ideas, as advised, focusing on national priorities, scalability, and feasibility related to Development of a “One Nation – One Organic Digital Platform”, supported by digital traceability and market integration, Promotion of e-marketing, , and village-level market ,Wider use of organic microbes and bio-inputs for soil health improvement and reduction in chemical fertilizer and pesticide use, Adoption of integrated advisory systems combining soil health, crop planning, weather intelligence, and data-driven decision support and many other innovative inputs.

In closing remarks, Dr M. L. Jat   appreciated the depth and clarity of the youth inputs and reiterated ICAR commitment to institutionalizing youth perspectives in policy, research, and extension frameworks. The session formally ended with a vote of thanks by Dr S. K. Sharma, Assistant Director General (EPHS), ICAR.

The dialogue reaffirmed ICAR vision of placing young agri-leaders at the forefront of innovation, sustainability, and technology-led growth, contributing meaningfully to the national goal of a Viksit Bharat.