87th Foundation Day and ICAR Award Ceremony

Design Second Green Revolution with New Vision and Dimensions, said Prime Minister

Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi called upon agricultural scientists and planners to design second green revolution with new vision, dimensions and objectives to address the agricultural challenges in this modern era. He was addressing 87th Foundation Day and ICAR award ceremony as Chief Guest here today. Prime Minister appreciated agricultural scientists and farmers for their contributions and suggested identification of commodities having high potential of income from national and global markets. He reiterated that second green revolution will begin from the land of eastern India which has immense potential in terms of natural resources and willing farmers to take up experiments in fields.

Prime Minister appreciated the initiative of ICAR to celebrate its Foundation Day at Patna, Bihar from where organised agricultural research was initiated first time in the country through establishment of agricultural research institute way back in 1905. Emphasizing on the lab to land initiative, he urged agricultural scientists to make farmers their fellow travelers in development and refinement of farm technologies. Adoption of villages by teams of scientists can bring significant changes in the life of farmers by enhancing productivity, he said. He expressed satisfaction that ICAR has translated his vision of Lab to Land into new schemes which have been launched today.

Prime Minister suggested developing linkages with architecture experts in designing of agricultural infrastructure like canals, storage structures and other facilities so that benefits of new advances can reach to agriculture. He also suggested refining and revalidating traditional knowledge abundantly available in villages particularly with regard to value addition of agricultural products. He urged agricultural scientists to blend their knowledge with potential of farmers to enhance farm productivity per hectare. He expressed happiness over the record sowing of pulses and oilseeds this year which is the call of the hour and need of the nation. Prime Minister especially emphasized to extend technologies of honeybee keeping to large number of farmers for enhancing production of honey which commands global market and can be a very successful venture for enhancing income of farmers. He also suggested increasing area under organic farming and vermicomposting. Prime Minister called upon agricultural scientists to work upon saffron, green, white and blue revolutions which signify energy, agriculture, milk and fisheries respectively. Prime Minister conferred Sardar Patel Outstanding ICAR Institution Award, Jagjivan Ram Abhinav Kisan Puruskar (National), N.G. Ranga Farmer Award for Diversified Agriculture and Chaudhary Charan Singh Award for Excellence in Agriculture Journalism.He also launched and released soil testing kit developed by ICAR and distributed to farmers. Prime Minister launched ICAR schemes Farmer FIRST, ARYA, Student READY and Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav. He also released ICAR Vision-2050 which presents a roadmap for food, nutrition and livelihood security in the year 2050. ICAR has developed Vision-2050 for its 100 Institutes spanning across India.

Shri Keshri Nath Tripathi, Hon'ble Governor, Bihar and Shri Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister, Bihar graced the occasion.

Shri Radha Mohan Singh, Union Minister of Agriculture presided over the function and welcomed the Prime Minister while highlighting the achievements of ICAR in his speech. He expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister on behalf of people of Bihar and agricultural scientists for approving various schemes of agricultural education and research for Bihar. He assured Prime Minister to realize his dream of second green revolution through network of ICAR Institutions and KVKs in located in Bihar.

Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan and Shri Mohan Bhai Kundariya, Union Ministers of State for Agriculture were also present on the occasion.

The Ministers conferred various categories of ICAR awards. This year 82 awards were given under 18 different categories, which includes three institutions, one AICRP, nine KVKs, 55 scientists, seven farmers and six agriculture journalists. Fifteen women scientists include the list of awardees. For the first time administrative awards were also given to administrative, technical and skill supporting personnel of ICAR for their outstanding contributions.

Dr. S. Ayyappan, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR welcomed the dignitaries and made a presentation on the achievements and contributions of ICAR along with outlining the future road map of the Council. He also briefed on achievements of various new initiatives and schemes launched by ICAR in response to Prime Minister's call during his Foundation Day speech last year.

Members of Governing Body of ICAR, Senior Officials of ICAR Headquarters, Directors of ICAR Institutes, Heads and representatives of International Organizations, Vice Chancellors of Agricultural Universities and scientists and staff of ICAR Institutes and Agricultural Universities of the region participated in the event.

(Source: Directorate of Knowledge Management in Agriculture, ICAR)