Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela 2025 began today (February 22, 2025) at the Pusa campus in New Delhi with an inauguration by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Organized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI), the event will run until February 24 under the theme “Unnat Krishi – Viksit Bharat,” emphasizing innovative agricultural practices to drive national progress.
In his inaugural speech, Union Minister Chouhan reaffirmed the government’s commitment to farmers, equating their service to worship. He highlighted the government's support for farmers, stressing that agriculture is an integral part of his life. He assured that continuous efforts are being made for farmers' welfare. Recognizing the role of high-quality seeds in boosting agricultural productivity, he noted ICAR’s significant work in developing improved seed varieties.
The government has increased the Kisan Credit Card limit from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, especially benefiting farmers engaged in vegetable, fruit, and horticulture cultivation. He also reassured that the government will continue purchasing wheat, rice, lentils, black gram, and pigeon pea at the Minimum Support Price, ensuring fair prices for farmers. He mentioned his upcoming meetings with farmer groups in Kurukshetra and Chandigarh to address their concerns.
As part of the event, Chouhan felicitated five progressive farmers for their contributions to innovative farming models. The honored farmers included Pooja Sharma from Haryana, Maurav Mallikarjuna Reddy from Telangana, Radheshyam Biswas from Odisha, Ram Narayan Choudhary from Rajasthan, and Sanjeev Kumar from Uttar Pradesh. Recognizing their efforts in adopting and promoting modern agricultural practices, he praised their role in advancing Indian agriculture. Additionally, he inaugurated this year’s ICAR publications, showcasing the latest research and advancements in the sector.
Dr. CH Shrinivas highlighted the possibility of over one lakh farmers and representatives attending the three-day Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela 2025, emphasizing its significance in knowledge exchange and agricultural advancements. He stated that 40% of the seeds showcased at the event have been developed by IARI, reflecting the institute’s contribution to enhancing agricultural productivity. Stressing the importance of sustainable agriculture and community development, he underscored the need for effective knowledge transfer between students, researchers, and farmers to ensure the successful growth of the agricultural sector.
DG Himanshu Pathak further emphasized integrating science with farming, advocating for the addition of "Kisan" with "Vigyan" to strengthen agriculture. He announced that over 2,000 climate-resilient crop varieties are now available, providing farmers with better options to tackle climate challenges. He outlined five key pillars essential for agricultural strengthening: promoting biofortified crops for national food security, ensuring full utilization of the Soil Health Card by farmers, adopting climate-resilient varieties, implementing integrated farming systems, encouraging crop diversification, and embracing eco-friendly farming practices.
The Mela features an extensive showcase of agricultural technologies and advancements. IARI’s latest research innovations will be on display, offering insights into the future of farming. Various stalls from ICAR Institutes, Agricultural Universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Farmer Producer Organizations, agripreneurs, start-ups, and private companies are presenting agricultural solutions.
Experts will discuss climate-resilient agriculture, crop diversification, digital farming, youth and women entrepreneurship, agricultural marketing, farmer organizations, and on-farm innovations. Farmers can purchase high-quality Pusa seeds and receive instant agricultural advisories from specialists.
The three-day event is expected to draw thousands of farmers, researchers, and industry stakeholders, reinforcing the role of advanced agricultural technology in achieving a prosperous and sustainable farming ecosystem.
