9th National Conference on KVK at Patna, 25-26th July 2015
The Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated 9th National Conference on Krishi Vigyan Kendra, 87th Foundation Day of ICAR and Award Ceremony on 25th July, 2015 at Patna.
Shri Keshri Nath Tripathi, Hon’ble Governor, Biha, Shri Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister, Bihar, Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan and Shri Mohan Bhai Kundariya, Union Ministers of State for Agriculture also graced the occasion. Members of Governing Body of ICAR, Senior Officials of ICAR Headquarters, Directors of ICAR Institutes, Heads and Representatives of International Organizations, Vice Chancellors of Agricultural Universities and scientists and staff of ICAR Institutes and Agricultural Universities of the region participated in the event. The National Conference was framed with three technical sessions and one valedictory function.
Shri Radha Mohan Singh, Union Minister of Agriculture presided over the function and welcomed the Prime Minister. He highlighted the achievements of ICAR in his speech. The Union Agricultural Minister announced various measures taken to strengthen KVKs. Increase of cadre strength from 16 to 22, new designation of SMSs as Scientists, establishment of three new Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs), reorganization of jurisdiction of ATARIs in terms of inclusion of States for better monitoring of KVKs etc. were the few issues elaborated in his speech. He pointed out the aims to initiate four schemes viz. Farmer FIRST, Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture (ARYA), Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav, and Student Ready and asked for timely implementation of these schemes to enhance lab to land process.
Dr. S. Ayyappan, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR welcomed the dignitaries and made a brief presentation on the achievements and contributions of ICAR along with outlining the future road map of the Council.
The Hon’ble Prime Minister in his address requested agricultural scientists and planners to design second green revolution for Eastern India with new vision, dimensions and objectives to face the challenges in future agriculture. He praised the initiative of ICAR to celebrate its Foundation Day at Patna, Bihar from where organized agricultural research was initiated for the first time in India during 1905.He appreciated that ICAR has translated his vision of Lab to Land with new schemes. The Hon’ble Minister opined that scientists should refine and revalidate traditional knowledge of agriculture with regard to value addition and other available practices. He appealed to enhance agricultural productivity per unit of land. Prime Minister emphasized that technologies related to apiary should be spread to the large number of farmers in the country for increasing production of honey to attract global market. He advised farmers to adopt agriculture in organic mode keeping the soil health status in mind. He called upon scientists to work on saffron, green, white and blue revolutions which signify energy, agriculture, milk and fisheries, respectively.
Prime Minister conferred Sardar Patel Outstanding ICAR Institution Award, Jagjivan Ram Abhinav Kisan Puruskar (National), N.G. Ranga Farmer Award for Diversified Agriculture and Chaudhary Charan Singh Award for excellence in Agriculture Journalism. He also released soil testing kit developed by ICAR and distributed to farmers. Â He launched ICAR schemes like Farmer FIRST, ARYA, Student READY and Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav and released ICAR Vision-2050 which indicates a roadmap for food, nutrition and livelihood security in the year 2050.
A total of 82 ICAR awards under 18 different categories were given to three institutions, one AICRP, nine KVKs, 55 scientists, seven farmers and six agriculture journalists which were conferred by the Ministers present in the occasion. The award also included fifteen women scientists. For the first time administrative awards were also given to administrative, technical and skill supporting personnel of ICAR for their outstanding contributions.
Eight awards were conferred by Agriculture Minister to the best performing KVKs which included National Award and Zonal Awards. He also launched the website of All India Agricultural Students Association and released knowledge products including a video film on KVK.
Shri R. Rajagopal, Additional Secretary, DARE & Secretary, ICAR also addressed the gathering.
The first technical session was Chaired by Dr. S. Ayyappan and Co-Chaired by Shri R. Rajagopal. Interaction with Vice-Chancellors, Directors of Extension Education, Directors of ICAR Institutes and Program Coordinators of KVKs took place during this session. Various administrative, financial and managerial issues related to the functioning of KVKs were discussed in the section.
Dr. A. K. Singh, Deputy Director General (AE), made a brief presentation highlighting different programs, facilities and provisions approved during ongoing Plan period.
Technical session-II was aimed to share the experiences of KVKs in skill based interventions. Eight Directors of ATARIs and eight Program Coordinators of KVKs from respective zones across the country made their presentations.
Technical Session–III concentrated on Technological Skills and Interventions, Deputy Directors General of ICAR made brief remarks on various key technical skill development areas related to Crop Science, Horticulture, Natural Resource Management, Animal Science, Fisheries, Agricultural Education and Agricultural Engineering relevant for KVKs.
Shri Radha Mohan Singh, the Union Minister of Agriculture, was the Chief Guest of valedictory function held on 26th July, 2015. The Deputy Director General (AE) presented in brief the recommendations emerged out of technical sessions and urged the KVKs to implement the recommendations in right earnest. The Union Agriculture Minister in delivering his address underlined the need for collaborative development plan for prosperity in agriculture in the eastern zone in particular and in the country as a whole. He urged the scientists to work more and more on lab to land programme to fulfil the aspiration of the Prime Minister. He assured that facilities in terms of infrastructure and others would be made available to achieve the set target. The Union Minister appreciated the efforts of ICAR in addressing farm related issues, especially attracting rural youths in agriculture through its well formulated plan of action.
The conference ended with vote of thanks.