Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Calls for Comprehensive Evaluation of Agricultural Research to Boost Productivity by 2047

Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, held an in-depth discussion today on June 13, 2024, with senior officials from the Department of Agriculture Research and Education, as well as the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. The focus of the meeting was on the comprehensive agricultural research plan and its effectiveness.

Chouhan highlighted the importance of evaluating the work of the 113 research institutes under the department. He stated, “We need to assess whether our network is functioning as intended and delivering the expected results. If there are any gaps, a detailed report should be submitted. This evaluation is crucial to ensure our efforts are aligned with the purposes for which the network was created.”

Highlighting the significance of setting and achieving targets, the Minister remarked, “By reviewing our targets and understanding where we fell short, we can identify the gaps and work towards filling them. This approach will help us achieve our goals by 2047. For this, it is essential to set intermediate targets for years like 2026 and 2027, and continually assess our progress.”

Chouhan also addressed the issue of productivity disparities in irrigated and non-irrigated areas, particularly in Jharkhand. He called for a campaign to balance productivity across different regions. “It is vital to understand why productivity in Jharkhand is lower compared to the rest of the country and work towards enhancing it,” he said.

During the meeting, the Minister directed officials to focus on research that increases farmers' productivity and income while reducing production costs. He stressed the need to promote bio-fortified crop varieties among farmers to ensure balanced crop productivity across all regions.

Union Ministers of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Ram Nath Thakur and Bhagirath Chaudhary, along with Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja, and Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Dr. Himanshu Pathak, were also present.

The meeting underscored the government's commitment to revolutionizing agricultural research and development, aiming for a significant boost in the agricultural sector by 2047.