Scientists will have to proceed with a roadmap in the face of climate change: Narendra Singh Tomar

Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, said that the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) had been founded 93 years ago. Since its foundation in 1929, it has released about 5,800 seed varieties. Of these, about 2,000 varieties have been released in only the last eight years since 2014. This is a very significant achievement. These include horticultural, climate-friendly and fortified seeds.

Tomar said that we were moving towards climate change. This was the most severe concern for the scientists. A roadmap will have to be made in this direction to proceed further. The country has to give results so that we may get into a better situation of exporting agricultural products from the country. All KVKs and scientists from ICAR institutes have a significant role to play in this. The Agriculture Minister was speaking at the ICAR’s 94th Foundation Day. He also awarded scientists and farmers on this occasion.

In the Foundation Day ceremony organized at the National Agriculture Science Complex, Pusa, Delhi, Tomar said that it was a historic day because ICAR had decided last year that during the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, discussions would be held with 75,000 such farmers whose income had doubled or increased more and their success would be documented. An e-publication of a compilation of these successful farmers has been brought out. This compilation of successful farmers will prove to be a milestone in the country’s history. Besides, state-wise briefs have been prepared on “doubling farmers’ income”. Tomar also released other publications of ICAR and said that ICAR should celebrate its Foundation Day as “Sankalp Diwas” (Resolution Day). Resolutions should be taken for the entire year on this occasion and fulfilled by the next Foundation Day.

The Agriculture Minister said that India was an agricultural country and agriculture was such a sector that demanded continuous work and tackling ever-new challenges. The current challenge lies in moving ahead with the use of technology along with promoting traditional farming. The Prime Minister is making an effort to bring about changes in the lives of the villages and poor farmers, and hence to develop infrastructure in rural areas, make facilities easily accessible and agriculture profitable. And multi-dimensional efforts have been made for this. Plans are being implemented to create new jobs and these are being funded. People are being linked to employment and employment opportunities are being created in the agriculture sector. When an educated person comes into farming, linking technology with ability and experience can create so many employment opportunities that the unemployment problem can be resolved.

Tomar said that the new education policy emerged from the Prime Minister’s vision. Agriculture is being included in the school curriculum. ICAR has taken initiative in making agricultural research institutes adopt the new education policy and we will get to see its good results in times to come. Tomar also asked the ICAR to get committed and make efforts to increase the production of pulses, oilseeds and cotton along with working in the field of agriculture productivity.

Earlier, some farmers from various parts of the country held online dialogues with the Agriculture Minister. In his discussion with farmers from Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, etc., it emerged that their income was increasing through government plans and institutional support and that their standard of life was improving.

The event was also addressed by Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying; Kailash Choudhary, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare; Dr Ramesh Chand, Member, Niti Aayog; and Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Director-General, ICAR. Officials from ICAR, vice-chancellors of agricultural universities, scientists and progressive farmers were also present on the occasion. Events were also held at the 731 KVKs and ICAR institutes of the country on Foundation Day. Local parliamentarians and legislators and other public representatives participated in the events along with thousands of farmers.