The 97th Annual General Meeting of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Society was held at the National Agricultural Science Complex (NASC) in New Delhi, with Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan chairing the meeting.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Chouhan said that a developed agricultural sector is essential for achieving the vision of a developed India. He called for a shift from focusing solely on higher production towards building a globally competitive agricultural ecosystem that connects farmers directly with domestic and international markets.
The Union Minister stressed the need for a demand-driven agricultural research system that responds to the requirements of farmers, consumers and markets. He said research should result in practical solutions that provide measurable benefits to farmers and reach the field without unnecessary delays.
“Research alone is not enough; the right research, at the right time, must address the right problem and reach the farmer quickly,” Shri Chouhan said, underlining the importance of making research outcomes more relevant and accessible.
He also highlighted the need to increase farm incomes and improve the resilience of small and marginal farmers. Integrated farming systems, access to quality seeds and planting material, balanced fertiliser use, improved soil health and sustainable agricultural practices, he said, would be critical to the next phase of agricultural development.
Shri Chouhan further emphasised strengthening India’s agricultural exports by improving quality, nutrition, processing, packaging, shelf life and compliance with international standards. He called for stronger collaboration between ICAR and industry so that technologies developed through scientific research can be commercialised and transferred to farmers more efficiently.
Union Minister of State for Agriculture Shri Bhagirath Choudhary said India has made substantial progress in agriculture and allied sectors since 2014, but the next priority should be achieving greater self-reliance. He highlighted the need to boost domestic capacity in pulses, oilseeds, seeds, livestock and value-added processing, while promoting climate-resilient farming and sustainable resource management.
He also stressed strengthening Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and market linkages to improve farmers’ earnings. According to him, ICAR and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) have a crucial role in taking scientific knowledge and innovations from laboratories to farmers.
Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri S. P. Singh Baghel highlighted India’s progress in foodgrains, horticulture, dairy, fisheries, meat and egg production. He called for greater integration of agriculture and allied activities, including livestock, dairy, fisheries and poultry, to diversify farm incomes and strengthen the rural economy.
Presenting ICAR’s key achievements, Secretary DARE and Director General ICAR Dr M. L. Jat said foodgrain production had increased by around 19 million tonnes during the year, while horticulture, milk and fisheries also registered notable growth.
He said ICAR released 386 new crop varieties, of which 94 per cent were climate-resilient and 29 were biofortified. Advances in genomics, genome editing, livestock health, fisheries, soil health and natural farming have further strengthened the resilience of Indian agriculture. The development of an indigenous vaccine against African Swine Fever was highlighted as a major scientific achievement.
ICAR also filed around 805 intellectual property applications during the year, while technology commercialisation was expanded across 36 institutions. The National Gender Platform for Agri-Food Systems now connects more than 9,000 establishments, supporting greater participation of women in agriculture.
The meeting also witnessed the signing of an MoU with industry and CSR donors to strengthen partnerships for agricultural research and development. Four ICAR publications were released, while the Annual Report 2025–26 and Annual Accounts for 2024–25 were presented for adoption.
The AGM concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthening agricultural research, innovation and technology transfer through Centre–State cooperation, with emphasis on farmer welfare, food and nutritional security, sustainability and a self-reliant agricultural sector.
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Author: Shivam
Shivam Dwivedi is a senior journalist with extensive experience in research-driven journalism, policy communication, and multi-platform storytelling. His areas of interest include international relations, defence, science & technology, education, urban development, agriculture, spirituality, and environmental sustainability. His work focuses on in-depth analysis, public discourse, and impactful narratives across governance and development sectors, with a strong commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Contact: [email protected]
