ICAR-IARI Celebrates its Foundation Day on 1 April

ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute celebrated its 117th Foundation Day on April 1, 2022. Dr. T. Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & DG (ICAR) was the Chief Guest of the function and Dr. T. R. Sharma, DDG (Crop Science) was the Guest of Honour. The occasion was presided over by Padma Bhushan Professor R B Singh. Dr. H S Gupta, Former DG- BISA and Former Director IARI, Dr. A K Singh, Director, ICAR-IARI, Dr. Rashmi Aggarwal, Dean & Joint Director (Education) and Dr. B. S. Tomar, Joint Director (Extension) were also present on stage.

Among other guests, Dr. K V Prabhu (Chairman, PPVFRA), Dr. A. K. Singh, DDG (AE), Dr. J K Jena, DDG (Fisheries Science), Dr. S. K. Malhotra, Director, ICAR-DKMA and Dr. D. K. Yadava, ADG (Seed), ICAR were present and two former Directors of IARI, Dr. Panjab Singh, and Dr. S A Patil, joined the function in virtual mode.

Dr. T. Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & DG (ICAR), during his Foundation Day Lecture, emphasized that every IARIian should take pride in being a part of the Institute and inculcate a sense of belongingness and responsibility towards the institution and the nation on this day.

Dr. Mohapatra mentioned that till now, we are focusing on the production aspect of a sustainable food system, but we have to improve R&D in post-production aspects like processing, value addition, fair price and marketing. IARI should take a leading role in addressing research and development in all these aspects of sustainable food production systems.

IARI can work toward nature positive agriculture and horticulture production system to reduce the chemical footprint in our food. He congratulated everyone and wished the Institute all the best for the future. Dr. R B Singh said that for society's benefit, we should do science along with social responsibility.

Everyone at IARI should take inspiration from past achievements and work tirelessly to uphold the glory of the Institute. Once again, he congratulated the Institute for its remarkable achievement and wished all the very best for its achievement.

On this occasion, Dr. T R Sharma congratulated the Institute for its achievement. He mentioned that he would like to see IARI stand alongside the top global university. Dr. H S Gupta commended IARI on feeding the country and earning foreign exchange.

He said that we should get satisfaction from our work and orient our work for the benefit of the farmers because, as a result of our research, farmers and ordinary people of the country are directly benefiting. He mentioned that we need to strengthen horticulture to raise farmers' income. He appreciated the Director IARI for restoring the importance of the farmer in agricultural research and development.

Dr. A K Singh, Director, ICAR-IARI, welcomed all the dignitaries, scientific, technical officers, staff members, and guests. He appreciated the effort of all the former Directors in creating the various infrastructure and scientific facilities by them during their tenure. The Director expressed condolences to the 12 employees who lost their lives during the COVID pandemic.

The Director briefed about the various achievements of the Institute during the last year. ICAR-IARI won the Sardar Patel Outstanding ICAR Institute Award during the year. The Institute has released 35 new varieties of different crops including 2 herbicide-resistant Basmati rice varieties. The successful field trial of Pusa Decomposer on 5 lakh acres area also yielded positive results. The Institute signed MoU with Grow Indigo to promote regenerative farming practices and online seed distribution companies like eFarm and Agrijunction. During the year the Discovery Center was established under the NAHEP project.

On this occasion, Padma Shree was conferred to farmer, Sethpal Singh shared his experience and journey of bringing crop diversification in agriculture for the sustainable income of smallholder farmers. He shared his endeavour to grow cereals, pulses, cash crops, and vegetables, most notably chestnut production in waterlogged field conditions. Another farmer, Satish Chandra Ji, appreciated the Institute's effort to develop SC/ST community farmers.

IARI gave the seed production licensing rights of a rice variety to mahyco and Nuziveedu Seeds. Seven, scientific publications namely; Poshan III, Poshan IV, Desert locust life cycle and management, Sabjifasal calendar, and Technical bulletin on smart urban farming technology were released. Seven dedicated workers were awarded as best workers, six progressive farmers were facilitated.

During the week-long celebration of foundation day, three competitions namely; painting, quiz, and speech were organized in which 140 students from 12 schools participated. The 33 winners of various competitions were awarded today. The program ended with a formal vote of thanks by Dr. Rashmi Aggarwal (Dean and Joint Director- Education).