Himanshu Pathak, the Director-General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), announced that they have implemented a comprehensive approach to tackle the challenges posed by climate change.
By leveraging technology, these measures aim to empower farmers and governments to enhance resilience in the agricultural sector. Dr Pathak discussed these initiatives during a press briefing in New Delhi on the occasion of ICAR's 95th Foundation and Technology Day.
One of the key components of this approach is the establishment of 731 Krishi Vigyan Kendras, which serve as advisory centers, offering farmers technical expertise and guidance to adopt new agricultural technologies more rapidly. Importantly, these efforts are not restricted to traditional farming but also extend to horticulture, natural resource management, animal husbandry, and fisheries.
In addition to this, ICAR is taking significant steps to promote agricultural education, envisioning ICAR as a global university with a focus on imparting high-quality agricultural education. The goal is to create a skilled and capable workforce in the field of agriculture, fostering excellence in the agricultural community.
Recognizing the importance of technology developers, the ICAR has consistently appreciated their contributions, particularly in areas such as production systems, plant protection, horticulture, engineering, and education. By building the capacity of farmers to adopt modern technologies on a large scale, the ICAR seeks to boost agricultural production, increase productivity, enhance the quality of agricultural products, and ensure greater income security for farmers.
Furthermore, the ICAR has successfully developed several new varieties of paddy seeds, which are planned to be shared with neighbouring countries such as Nepal and Bangladesh under the proposed "Seeds Without Border" program. The organization has also been actively involved in strengthening the agricultural education systems in Myanmar and Afghanistan. In line with the evolving agricultural landscape, India is committed to addressing global agricultural challenges at the international level.
