01 April 2024; New Delhi | ANN

Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) Pusa celebrated its 119th Foundation Day at Dr B.P. Pal Auditorium on Monday. The green revolution started from the fields of IARI under the leadership of Dr M.S. Swamiathan, with the development of wheat varieties which paved way for self-reliance in food production. IARI today continues to be the leading institution for agricultural research, education, and extension in the country.

On the occasion, Dr Sanjay Kumar, Chairman, Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board, New Delhi delivered the Foundation Day Lecture titled ‘Unlocking Nature’s Vault: Plant Bioresources for a Thriving Economy’.

He described IARI as the ‘Iconic Architect of Revolutionary Innovations’ and Pusa as a ‘Publically Useful Solutions for Agriculture’. He emphasized the significance of ‘Prosperity’, a key focus for MS Swaminathan, stressing its link to the economy. Dr. Kumar discussed the concept of Bio-Economy, which encompasses research and innovations in biosciences aimed at driving economic activity.

Dr. A. K. Singh, Director of ICAR-IARI in New Delhi, highlighted the institute’s significant achievements during the past year. In 2023-24, the institute introduced approximately 25 varieties of wheat crops and 42 varieties of flowers, fruits, and vegetable crops for commercial cultivation.

The journey of IARI, popularly known as Pusa Institute, began in 1905 at Pusa (Bihar) with the generous grant of 30,000 pounds from an American philanthropist, Henry Phipps. Later, it got popularized that PUSA got its name from Phipps of USA. The institute was then known as Agricultural Research Institute (ARI) which functioned with five departments, namely Agriculture, Cattle Breeding, Chemistry, Economic Botany and Mycology. Bacteriology unit was added in 1907. The name of ARI was changed to Imperial Institute of Agricultural Research in 1911 and, in 1919 it was renamed as Imperial Agricultural Research Institute.

Following a devastating earth quake on 15th January 1934, the institute was shifted to Delhi on 29th July 1936. Post independence, the institute has been renamed as Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI).

It attained the status of a Deemed University in the year 1958.

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