Indian Council of Agricultural Research to Launch 'Farmers Innovation Fund' in 2020-21

ICAR Director General, Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra during the first ever Farmers' Science Congress, a part of the ongoing 107th Indian Science Congress said that Indian Council of Agricultural Research will launch a 'Farmers Innovation Fund' (FIF).

The Director General said, "We will begin in a small way to see how successful it is and then take it in a big way. We will see how farmers are showing interest".

Although no quantum of money has been allotted to the fund yet, Dr Mohapatra said ICAR will begin operating the 'Farmers Innovation Fund' in fiscal 2020-21.

He added that the fund's details are currently being worked out and the institution can even start it with as low as rupees one crore for a beginning.

Dr. Mohapatra who is also the Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research & Education or DARE said, "We have a proposal to include the fund in the Union Budget. Even if it does not feature in the Budget, we will create it in our own ICAR budget".

After the farmers' congress, the DG said farmers are preserving the biodiversity & local germ plasma.

He added "If we can give some support to their innovations through financial support, innovation validation & market linkage then farmers will be encouraged to continue that".

He mentioned that innovative cultivators will be the applicants of the fund.

On the other hand, the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) Vice Chancellor & the science congress organising committee chairman, Mr. Rajendra Prasad told that all the tangible proposals from the congress will be presented on 7th January at the valedictory function.

Prasad said, "All the tangible recommendations from 14 sectors of science congress, children's science congress, women's science congress, farmer's science & science communicators would be presented in the valedictory function".

To recall, the 107th edition of the Indian Science Congress (ISC) started on 3rd January and will continue till 7th January.