16th Agricultural Science Congress: Union Minister Calls for Sustainable Agri-Food System Innovations

Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala, emphasized the imperative need to transform agricultural and food systems into sustainable enterprises through scientific innovations. His remarks came during the inauguration of the 16th Agricultural Science Congress (ASC) in Kochi.

Minister Rupala underlined the escalating demand for food, mounting environmental degradation, and the challenges posed by climate change. These factors collectively necessitate a shift towards sustainability and innovation in the agriculture sector. Rupala urged agricultural scientists to focus on mechanization and the development of specialized farm implements to empower women in agriculture.

Union Minister Rupala drew attention to the pressing issue of marine and inland water pollution, which has had detrimental effects on aquatic life and coastal ecosystems. He implored scientists to find long-term and sustainable solutions to combat this environmental threat.

Rupala also expressed enthusiasm for promoting traditional agricultural products, such as pokkali rice, and ensuring profitability for the farmers involved. He stressed the importance of minimizing post-harvest losses through advanced technological interventions, noting that this is key to increasing production. The Union Minister highlighted the critical role of translating accumulated scientific knowledge into commercial success for the future of India's agriculture.

In addition to inaugurating the event, Rupala also presided over the Agri Expo, where innovative agricultural technologies from public and private sector research institutes, universities, agro-industries, extension agencies, and NGOs were showcased. During the event, he presented awards, including the Dr. B.P. Pal Award for Excellence in Agricultural Sciences, the Dr. A.B. Joshi Memorial Lecture Award, and several other honors from the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS).

Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary to the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), delivered the presidential address and shared a message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Dr. Pathak emphasized that India's food grain demand is projected to reach 340-355 metric tonnes by 2033. He noted that research on genomics and genome editing would be at the core of technological advancements in agriculture, especially in cases where traditional breeding methods fall short.

P. Prasad highlighted the 'Poshaka Samrudhi' scheme recently launched by the government of Kerala, which aims to contribute to these objectives. Minister Prasad also called for a shift towards carbon-neutral development pathways and the adoption of new technologies to enhance production, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the post-harvest sector.