AgriNation Network
New Delhi | 17 Feb 2017
Addressing the 88th Annual General Meeting of ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) yesterday, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Radha Mohan Singh lauded the efforts of ICAR, “Despite difficult challenges being faced by ICAR in its working period of 87 years, it has attained many achievements and these achievements are the milestones of progress of agriculture. Increase in production and income, development of institutes, human resources, development of new techniques, agriculture diversification are the areas in which ICAR has established new standards of success”.
Underlining the agri budget, he said, “In this budget, holistic development of agriculture is the main focus in which to provide credit to farmers on affordable rates, assured supply of seeds and fertilizers, increase in irrigation facilities, increase in productivity through soil health cards, through e-NAM assured market and providing profitable price has been emphasised. In the budget for 2017-18, the fund for rural, agriculture and allied sectors has been increased by 24% as compared to last fiscal year. It is now Rs. 1, 87,223 crore. In the next financial year, it is estimated that the progress rate of agriculture sector will be 4.1%”.
He also informed about the record production of food grains this year. As per the 2nd advance estimate for the year 2016-17, there would be a total of 271.98 million tonnes production of food grains which is 6.94 MT compared to last records (265.04 MT is 2013-14) 20.41 million tonnes higher than last year production.
Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education & DG, ICAR, and scientists of ICAR were also present on the occasion.
Since 1951, production of food grains has increased five times, horticulture production by 9.5 times, Fisheries production by 12.5 times, milk production by 7.8 times and egg production by 3.9 times.
A day before, Agri Minister had also addressed the meeting of vice-chancellors of agri universities and directors of ICAR institutes, where he said, “To achieve the government’s target of doubling the income of farmers, all the institutes of ICAR should emphasize on developing economically feasible models”.
ICAR is an autonomous organisation under the Agriculture Ministry. It has 101 ICAR institutes and 71 agri universities spread across the country.
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