31 Farmers awarded including 4 Padma Shree

The three-days (05-07 March, 2019) Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela with the theme of ‘Agricultural

Development: Innovative Technologies is organized at the sprawling campus of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi.

On the last day of Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela, Innovative Farmers Meet was organized under the chairmanship of Dr. A. K. Singh, DDG (Agril.Extension) & Director, ICAR-IARI. Dr. J. P. Sharma, Joint Director (Extension), ICAR-IARI was Co-Chairman.

Dr. M. C. Sharma former Director, ICAR-IVRI, Dr. P. N. Mathur and Dr. B. S. Hansra both former ADG (Agricultural Extension), ICAR& Joint Director (Extension, IARI were Guests of Honour in session. The awardee farmers (ICAR-IARI Innovative Farmers and ICAR-IARI Fellow Farmers) have shared their rich experiences and innovations developed by them.

The valedictory session was chaired by Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary DARE and DG, ICAR. Dr Ramesh Chand, Member, NITI Ayog was the Chief Guest. Other dignitaries present on the days were Shri.Sanjay Agarwal, Secretary DAC&FW; Dr. A.K. Srivastava, Chairman (ASRB); Dr K V Prabhu, Chairperson, PPVFRA; Dr A K Singh, DDG, Agricultural Extension and Director, IARI; Dr J P Sharma, Joint Director (Ext), Dr. A K Singh, Joint Director (Res), Progressive Farmers Col. Deswal and Smt. GauripriyaMohapatra.

Dr. A.K. Singh, DDG, Agricultural Extension, ICAR and Director, IARI welcomed the dignitaries and congratulated all the awardee farmers. He even thanked them for their contributions towards agricultural development in the country. He complimented scientists & staff of the institute for the grand success of event and also appreciated farmers for their keen involvement.

Dr. Ramesh Chand congratulated the scientists for their immense contribution towards spreading awareness among farmers for adopting new technologies and innovations. He stressed on the need of marketing of the surplus produce and the implementation of new agricultural policy for realization of better income for the farmers.

Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary, DARE & Director General, ICAR delivered the presidential address. He congratulated all the awardee farmers and motivated the fellow farmers present at the fair. He also congratulated farmers and scientists for record production of agricultural and horticultural crops this year. Shri Sanjay Agarwal, Secretary, DAC&FW, Govt. of India reiterated the pivotal role of new and innovative farm technologies in doubling income of farmers. He said modern technologies and crop varieties must reach to farmers without any time lag and must be demonstrated on farmers’ fields for winning the confidence of farmers.

Shri Agarwal said the government is working towards increasing the usage of technology at the hands of the farmers under various schemes like  Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Soil Health Card Scheme and Traditional Agriculture development Scheme  (Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana), Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi in the light of doubling farmer’s income by 2022.Large number of farmers from across the country visited the fair and gained useful knowledge and information.

On this occasion important IARI publications were also released. Several institutes of ICAR across the country are participated and exhibited farmer friendly technologies, innovations and products.