The 97th Annual General Meeting of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Society was held today at the National Agricultural Science Complex (NASC), New Delhi, under the chairmanship of Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “Without developed agriculture, the dream of a developed India cannot be realised.” He emphasised that India must move beyond merely increasing production and build a strong identity “from farm to global market”. He called for a demand-driven research ecosystem aligned with farmers’ needs, market demand and consumer requirements, with research outcomes delivering direct and measurable benefits to farmers.

He stressed that the next phase of agricultural transformation must focus on improving farm incomes and strengthening the resilience of small and marginal farmers. In this context, he emphasised integrated farming systems, along with timely access to quality seeds and planting material, balanced fertiliser use, improved soil health and sustainable agricultural practices.

Shri Chouhan also underlined the importance of strengthening India’s export viability through quality, nutrition, processing, packaging, shelf life and compliance with global standards. He called for stronger ICAR–industry partnerships to ensure that technologies developed through research are transferred to farmers more rapidly and effectively.

“Research alone is not enough; the right research, at the right time, must address the right problem and reach the farmer quickly that is the true measure of success,” he said.

Emphasising the need for a more outcome-oriented research ecosystem, Shri Chouhan called for greater dialogue among scientists, policymakers, farmers, industry and other stakeholders, along with clearer prioritisation of research objectives. He stressed that innovative ideas must move beyond laboratories and be translated into practical solutions and measurable impact on the ground.

“Our hard work, our research and our efforts can transform India’s image and change the destiny of our farmers,” he added.

Shri Bhagirath Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Agriculture, said that India has made significant strides in agriculture and allied sectors since 2014, and the next priority is to achieve self-reliance in agriculture.

He emphasised the need to strengthen self-sufficiency in pulses, oilseeds, seeds, livestock and value-added processing, while promoting climate-resilient agriculture, soil health and sustainable resource management. He also stressed stronger FPOs and market linkages to enhance farmers’ incomes.

Shri Choudhary underscored the role of ICAR and KVKs in taking science, technology and innovation to farmers, and said that self-reliant agriculture is vital to realising the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Shri S. P. Singh Baghel, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, highlighted India’s significant progress across agriculture and allied sectors, including foodgrains, horticulture, dairy, fisheries, meat and eggs. He attributed this transformation to scientific research, technology and the collective efforts of scientists, farmers and the Central and State Governments.

Highlighting the legacy of the Green and White Revolutions, Shri Baghel noted India’s position as the world’s largest milk producer and significant growth in fisheries production and exports. He stressed greater integration of agriculture, livestock, dairy, fisheries and poultry to enhance farmers’ incomes and strengthen the rural economy.

The meeting brought together Union and State Ministers and other stakeholders from across the agricultural and allied sectors. Other dignitaries present included Shri Gabriel Danwang Wangsu, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Horticulture and Fisheries, Government of Arunachal Pradesh; Smt. Nilima Devi, Minister of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary and Fisheries, Government of Assam; Shri Vijay Kumar Sinha, Minister of Agriculture, Government of Bihar; Shri Shyam Singh Rana, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Fisheries and Horticulture, Government of Haryana; Shri Javid Ahmad Dar, Minister of Agriculture Production, Government of Jammu and Kashmir; Shri Narayan Singh Kushwaha, Minister of Horticulture and Food Processing, Government of Madhya Pradesh; Shri Methuthung Yanthan, MLA and Adviser, Agriculture Department, Government of Nagaland; Shri Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development, Government of Punjab; Shri Puran Kumar Gurung, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Horticulture and Fisheries, Government of Sikkim; Shri Ganesh Joshi, Minister of Agriculture and Horticulture, Government of Uttarakhand; Shri Surya Pratap Shahi, Minister of Agriculture, Agricultural Education and Agricultural Research, Government of Uttar Pradesh; Shri Dharampal Singh, Minister of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development, Government of Uttar Pradesh; Shri Sanjay Nishad, Minister of Fisheries, Government of Uttar Pradesh; and Shri Dudh Kumar Mondal, Minister, Agriculture Department, Government of West Bengal.

Dr M.L. Jat, Secretary, DARE & Director General, ICAR, while presenting the key achievements of ICAR, highlighted the Council’s accelerated progress in science-led, farmer-centric agricultural transformation over the past year.

Foodgrain production rose by around 19 million tonnes, while horticulture, milk and fisheries also recorded significant growth. A total of 386 new crop varieties were released, including 94% climate-resilient and 29 biofortified varieties, strengthening productivity, climate resilience and nutrition security.

Dr Jat highlighted major breakthroughs in genomics, genome editing, livestock health, fisheries, soil health and natural farming that have further strengthened India’s agricultural resilience. The indigenous African Swine Fever vaccine emerged as a significant scientific breakthrough for pig health and farmers’ livelihoods.

ICAR has also accelerated the translation of research into field applications and market opportunities. Around 805 IP applications were filed during the past year, while technology commercialisation was strengthened across 36 institutions. The National Gender Platform for Agri-Food Systems now connects 9,000+ establishments, reinforcing women’s participation in agriculture.

Dr Jat also presented the ICAR Annual Report 2025–26 and read out the resolution for its adoption.

Shri Sandeep Sarkar, Additional Secretary, DARE & Financial Adviser, ICAR, presented the Annual Accounts along with the Auditor’s Report for 2024–25, followed by the resolution for their adoption.

Earlier, the meeting commenced with a presentation on the research progress made by ICAR since the last Annual General Meeting, highlighting the Council’s contributions to agricultural research, innovation and development.

A MoU was also signed with industry and CSR donors for CSR partnership with ICAR, further strengthening collaborative efforts and resource mobilisation for agricultural research and development.

Four ICAR publications were released during the occasion. The meeting also considered the updating/amendments in the Rules and Bye-laws of the ICAR Society, followed by the proposal for their adoption.

Members shared their suggestions regarding ICAR’s achievements and expectations with respect to agricultural research, providing valuable inputs for further strengthening the Council’s research and development agenda.

The participating Union and State Ministers expressed satisfaction over the growth in foodgrain production and the overall progress made in the agriculture sector. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Centre–State collaboration and working collectively towards farmers’ prosperity and advancement of agriculture.

The meeting concluded with a formal vote of thanks proposed by Shri Sandeep Sarkar, Additional Secretary, DARE & Financial Adviser (DARE/ICAR), followed by the National Anthem.

The Annual General Meeting reaffirmed ICAR’s continued commitment to advancing agricultural research, innovation and technology-led development in close collaboration with the Union and State Governments, with a focus on farmers’ welfare, food and nutritional security, and a resilient, sustainable and self-reliant agricultural sector.

***

RC/MS