The much-anticipated Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela (PKVM) 2025, organized by the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, is set to take place from February 22 to 24, 2025. Themed Unnat Krishi – Viksit Bharat, the event aims to showcase cutting-edge agricultural advancements, fostering innovation and growth in the sector.
The event will witness the presence of esteemed dignitaries, including Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, as the Chief Guest for the inaugural function. Additionally, Ramnath Thakur and Bhagirath Choudhary, Ministers of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, will grace the occasion as the Guest of Honour and Chief Guest of the Valedictory Session on February 24, 2025. The sessions will be presided over by Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary DARE and Director General, ICAR.
Key Attractions of Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela 2025
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Live demonstrations of cutting-edge agricultural technologies and newly developed crop varieties by IARI.
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Exhibitions showcasing promising technologies, products, and services from ICAR institutes, agricultural universities, KVKs, FPOs, start-ups, and private companies.
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Technical sessions and interactive discussions between farmers and scientists on crucial topics, including climate-resilient agriculture, digital farming, crop diversification, entrepreneurship, agricultural marketing, and farmer innovations.
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Sale of high-quality Pusa Seeds of important crop varieties.
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On-spot agro-advisory services for farmers.
With the rising challenges of climate change and nutritional security, IARI has made remarkable strides in developing climate-resilient and bio-fortified crop varieties. In 2024 alone, 27 new crop cultivars were released across 10 different crops, including wheat, rice, maize, pearl millet, chickpea, pigeon pea, lentil, mustard, and soybean. Among these, high-yielding Basmati rice varieties such as Pusa Basmati 1718, Pusa Basmati 1692, and disease-resistant PB 1847, PB 1885, and PB 1886 contribute significantly to India’s Basmati rice exports, which generated Rs. 48,389 crores in 2023-24. The introduction of short-duration non-Basmati rice varieties, Pusa 1824 and Pusa 2090, ensures sufficient time for post-harvest operations, further benefiting farmers.
The institute has also prioritized nutritional security with the development of eight biofortified cultivars. Notable advancements include bread wheat variety HI 1665 and durum wheat HI 8840, both enriched with high iron and zinc content. Maize hybrids such as Pusa Biofortified Maize Hybrid 5 and Pusa Biofortified Maize Hybrid-4 are fortified with essential nutrients like provitamin A, lysine, and tryptophan. Similarly, Pusa Mustard 35 and 36, featuring low erucic acid and glucosinolates, offer high yields in irrigated conditions.
Crop diversification remains a focal point, with IARI advancing integrated farming systems (IFS) to enhance economic and ecological benefits. The IFS model for small farmers integrates crops, dairy, fisheries, duckery, and agroforestry, potentially generating net returns of Rs. 3,79,000 per hectare annually while creating 628 man-days of employment. Meanwhile, an IFS model for marginal farmers with polyhouse and mushroom cultivation can yield Rs. 1,75,650 per acre annually.
Horticulture-based diversification is gaining traction among farmers, with IARI introducing 268 improved vegetable varieties across 48 crops. These include high-nutrient varieties such as Pusa Prateek and Pusa Rudhira (carrot), Pusa Lal Bhindi-1 (okra), Pusa Vilayati Palak (spinach), and Pusa Purple Broccoli-1. Disease-resistant brinjal, onion, cucumber, bitter gourd, musk melon, and Indian bean varieties further reduce pesticide use and cultivation costs. In fruit crops, Pusa Aarushi and Pusa Pratiksha (soft-seeded guavas), semi-dwarf papaya variety Pusa Peet, and marigold variety Pusa Bahar have been recommended for cultivation.
Innovation in agricultural tools and techniques continues to be a stronghold of IARI. The institute has developed the SpeedySeed Viability Kit, which identifies viable seeds within hours, and the Pusa STFR Meter, a low-cost digital device analyzing 14 key soil parameters. The Pusa Decomposer, an eco-friendly microbial solution, effectively manages crop residue, while the Sun Fridge, an off-grid solar cold store, helps farmers store perishable produce. To tackle fruit fly infestations, IARI has introduced the PUSA MeFly and PUSA CueFly kits. Additionally, rapid diagnostic kits such as the Point-of-Care Detection Kit for chilli leaf curl virus and the Easy PCR Detection Kit for mung bean yellow mosaic virus offer quick and precise disease detection.
With a strong emphasis on technology-driven sustainable agriculture, PKVM 2025 will serve as a crucial platform for knowledge exchange between researchers, policymakers, and farmers.
