10 March 2022, New Delhi: “The Central Government is committed to realize the vision of the Prime Minister to provide the facilities of linking the farmers with the markets which will enable them to sell their products directly to the markets and consumers effectively”, said Mr. Kailash Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare here today. Mr. Choudhary was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela – 2022 organized by the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi from 9th to 11th March, 2022.
This Year, the “Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela” has been organized on the Theme – “Self-sufficient Farmers with technological Knowledge”.
To promote the direct marketing of the Farmers’ products, the Minister also dedicated the “Pusa Agri Krishi Haat Complex” to the nation during the occasion.
The Minister urged the farmers for utilizing the benefits of the various latest technologies and scientific innovations being developed by the ICAR Institutes. He also highlighted the hard work being carried out by the farmers and research by the scientists that have led the agricultural sector to prosper more. The increasing interest of the Youths towards the agricultural sector was underlined by the Minister.
The establishment of 10 Thousand Farmers’ Producers’ Organizations (FPOs) was outlined by Mr. Choudhary. The Minister stated about the mobilization of the various facilities at the villages level through 1 Lakh Crores Agri Infra Fund. “The evidence of the landmarks received in the fields of Pulses and Foodgrains depicts the Central Government’s envision to make the farmers self-dependent and self-sufficient”, stressed the Minister.
Delivering his address, Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR) underlined the launch of the Drone Facilities that will help in making the agricultural practices comfortable and more effective. “The Bio-Ethanol made from the bi-products of Sugarcane can be a perfect substitute for petrol”, said the DG. He also urged the farming communities for maximizing the use of digital technologies to make their works easier, faster and efficient.
Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension), ICAR and Dr. Tilak Raj Sharma, Deputy Director General (Crop Science), ICAR along with the other Senior Officials of ICAR Headquarters were also present during the occasion.
Dr. Madhaiyaan Angamuthu, Chairman, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India underlined the various achievements made by the Organization.
Outlining about the Mela, Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh, Director, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi stated about the display of ways of practicing Smart / Digital Agriculture, encouragement of Agri-Start-Ups & Farmers’ Producers’ Organizations (FPOs), Organic & Natural Farming and Protected Farming, etc., during the event. The showcasing of the ICAR’s developed Innovative Technologies like Solar Energy Operated Pusa-Farm Sun Fridge, Pusa Decomposer and Pusa Sampoorna Bio-Fertilizer (a unique liquid formulation providing Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium), etc., during the Mela was also underlined by Dr. Singh.
Dr. B.S. Tomar, Joint Director (Extension), ICAR-IARI, New Delhi highlighted the portrayal of the various latest and advanced technologies developed by the ICAR Institutes, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and other Agriculture Related Institutes during the Mela.
The Pusa Agri Krishi Haat developed on 2 Acre land is equipped with the facility of putting-up 60 Stalls. The facility will enable the urban population to buy the agricultural products directly.
The three-day Mela will display the live demonstrations of the Rabi & Kharif Crops, protected cultivation of vegetables and flowers, exhibition and sale of farm equipments developed by ICAR-IARI & other ICAR Institutes and Private Companies, sale of seeds and plants of improved varieties, free testing of soil & water samples and uses of Drone Technology, etc. The participating farmers and the visitors will be provided with the free health check-up during the Mela.
The various ICAR Publications were also released by the dignitaries during the Mela.
