The 6th International Agronomy Congress (IAC–2025) was successfully inaugurated today at the NPL Auditorium, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, in the august presence of Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan. This three-day global event (24–26 November 2025) is being organized by the Indian Society of Agronomy (ISA) in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), and the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS).

More than 1,000 scientists, policymakers, students, development partners, and industry experts from India and abroad are participating in the Congress. Scientists from several international organizations- including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), and the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)- are also present at the event.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Guest, Hon’ble Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, said that the foundation of Viksit Bharat @2047 lies in smart, sustainable, and profitable agriculture. He remarked, “Agriculture must move toward producing more with fewer resources while conserving more for future generations. Agronomy is the bridge that connects scientific research with the farmer’s field.” The minister emphasized optimizing soil health, water-use efficiency, biodiversity, eco-nutrition, and digital agriculture. He also announced that the recommendations emerging from the Congress will be incorporated into national policies and regional action plans.

During the inaugural session, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan released the IAC–2025 Declaration, featuring key recommendations such as:

• Promotion of soil-carbon sequestration and water-efficient farming
• Scaling up AI-based digital agriculture solutions and the Agri-Stack framework
• Mainstreaming natural and regenerative agriculture models
• Targeted innovation programmes for youth and women farmers
• Next-generation agronomy education at school and university levels
• One-Health, LiFE Mission, and Net-Zero 2070 aligned agricultural strategies
• Global outreach of Indian climate-smart agricultural models

Minister of State for Agriculture, Shri Bhagirath Choudhary, said, “Agronomy must become the solution to the real problems of farmers.” He emphasized that the ultimate goal of agronomy is to enhance farmer income, environmental security, and nutritional quality. He stated that innovations must reach every field- whether in the dry lands of Rajasthan or the hill regions of Uttarakhand. He stressed the importance of rainfed agriculture, natural resource management, women’s participation, youth-led innovations, and strengthening rural micro-enterprises.

Ten thematic symposia during the Congress will include scientific presentations on:

• Climate-resilient agriculture and carbon-neutral farming
• Nature-based solutions and One-Health
• Precision input management and resource efficiency
• Harnessing genetic potential
• Energy-efficient machinery, digital solutions, and post-harvest management
• Nutrition-sensitive agriculture and eco-nutrition
• Gender empowerment and livelihood diversification
• Agriculture 5.0, next-gen education, and Viksit Bharat 2047
• Young scientists’ and students’ conference

These discussions will chart new pathways for achieving SDG-1, SDG-2, SDG-12, SDG-13, and SDG-15 through agronomy.

During the programme, Dr. M.L. Jat, Secretary, DARE & Director General, ICAR, stated, “India’s agronomy research is leading global climate-smart agriculture. The outcomes of IAC–2025 will significantly contribute to ICAR Vision–2050.”

The collaborative initiatives emerging from this platform will further strengthen partnerships with G20, FAO, CGIAR, and South–South Cooperation.

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RC/AR