Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Inaugurated Exhibition at 96th ICAR Foundation and Technology Day Celebration

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, inaugurated the exhibition today (July 16, 2024) held on the occasion of the 96^th ICAR Foundation and Technology Day celebration. Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Union Ministers of States for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Bhagirath Choudhary, Ram Nath Thakur, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Ministry of Minority Affairs George Kurian and Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry &Dairying and Ministry of Panchayati Raj Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel also graced the event.

The day commenced with the auspicious lamp-lighting ceremony accompanied by ICAR’s melodious song, followed by a welcome address from Sanjay Garg, Additional Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research & Education and Secretary of ICAR. He praised ICAR's illustrious journey and achievements over the past 95 years and emphasized the need to focus on crucial areas like Climate Change, Water Use Efficiency, Biofortification, AI, IoT, and Smart Agriculture.

In his address, Himanshu Pathak, Secretary (Agriculture Research and Education) and Director General of ICAR, also highlighted ICAR's achievements, including the development of new varieties of food grains and horticulture crops, and the mapping of efficient cropping system zones.

अन्न के उत्पादन में तो हमने प्रगति की ही है। साथ ही पशुपालन, डेयरी और मत्स्य पालन के क्षेत्र में भी अभूतपूर्व कार्य हुआ है।

- माननीय श्री @ChouhanShivraj जी#ICARfoundationday pic.twitter.com/zsryura64n
— Office of Shivraj (@OfficeofSSC) July 16, 2024
 

Addressing the gathering, Shivraj Singh Chouhan congratulated ICAR on their remarkable achievements over the past 96 years. “Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy, and farmers are its soul. As a farmer myself, I consider serving farmers to be a form of worship. To quadruple farmers' incomes, crop diversification is essential. We have made significant progress in food production, as well as unprecedented advancements in animal husbandry, dairy, and fisheries,” said Chouhan.

Following this, Shivraj Singh Chauhan honored various agricultural scientists and institutions making innovations in the fields of agriculture and animal husbandry, aquaculture and agricultural engineering.

On this occasion, 25 varieties of crops were released and some products were dedicated to the farmers. Vaccine kits for animal science and fisheries were released, along with this, various products made from crop waste were also released.

Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh said that he hopes that the institutions which have signed contracts with ICAR implement them as soon as possible so that farmers also get benefits. Livestock and fisheries are contributing 35 percent to the gross domestic production, if we do not pay attention to it, it can fall down. If we pay attention to it, it can contribute more than 50 percent. We have reached the second position in the world in fisheries. Today we export Rs 63 thousand crore. If we promote livestock and fisheries, there will be a lot of benefit.

The Animal Husbandry Department is engaged in the eradication of Foot and Mouth Disease ( FMD ). Research and tell us where you can help us in freeing us from FMD. Give us feedback and we will act on it. Work is being done to reduce the spread of FMD in many states. Also, work on how to free livestock from FMD in India. You should also give priority to livestock. Work should be done on classified semen and also on IVF technology, ICAR should work to bring IVF at a cheaper rate. This will have two benefits - one, there will be freedom from stray animals on the roads and milk production will also increase.

National Gokul Mission has also done a lot of work in the dairy sector. Dairy sector is completely unorganized, how will we bring it into the organized sector, only then will we be able to develop the dairy sector. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's goal is that we should reach number 1 in the world in milk exports, work on that. You should also work on how to increase exports in fisheries, the different species of fisheries. Unless work is done on deep sea fishing, we cannot increase exports. We have told the department that our annual export target of Rs 63 thousand crore has to be increased to 1 lakh crore annual exports , work on this target.

Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ramnath Thakur said that you have done a lot of work for agriculture sector and production but the storage of the produced grains has not been arranged. Thakur said that work should be done on the storage system of grain production. Agriculture needs non-toxic fertilizers and scientists should do research in this direction so that humans do not get poisonous food. Work to reduce the usefulness of fertilizers to almost nil.

Minister of State in the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Panchayati Raj, Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel said that ICAR is doing a lot of things, not only in the laboratory but also in the fields, and today we got to see it. ICAR's work is visible in every field. By preparing Nano Urea, it will help in doubling the income of farmers. ICAR has come up with many farming options which will benefit the farmers. Baghel said that if work is done on classified semen, then 90 percent of the calves born will be female calves.

Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Bhagirath Chaudhary said that today there is a challenge for all of us that if we do not take care of the farmers of the country who feed 140 crore people, then there will be a big problem in the future. Indian Council of Agricultural Research has made a lot of progress. It is very important for us to progress but we also need to worry that there should not be any problem for humans. Today there is a need to emphasize on digital revolution. Oilseeds and production has increased in the country, despite this there is a need to increase production further. There is a shortage of water, there is a need to focus on increasing productivity. There is also a need to involve  Krishi Vigyan Kendra ( KVK ) by running a public awareness campaign among the farmers. 

Union Minister of State for Fisheries George Kurien said that India is the second largest producer of fish in the world. Dr. Himanshu Pathak said that ICAR has helped India become a global agri-exporter by using technology produce.