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Priya Singh
New Delhi: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has outlined a stronger farmer-centric and demand-driven research agenda, with a focus on raising farm incomes, accelerating technology transfer and strengthening India’s position from farm to global markets.
The roadmap emerged at the 97th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the ICAR Society, held at the National Agricultural Science Complex (NASC), New Delhi, under the chairmanship of Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Addressing the AGM, Chouhan said that India’s vision of a developed nation cannot be achieved without a developed agriculture sector.
He called for a shift from a production-focused approach towards an agricultural ecosystem that connects the farm with global markets. According to him, agricultural research must be driven by actual demand and aligned with the needs of farmers, markets and consumers.
“Research alone is not enough,” Chouhan said, stressing that the right research must address the right problem at the right time and reach farmers quickly.
The Minister also called for research outcomes to be measured by their practical benefits and impact on farmers.
Improving farm incomes, particularly for small and marginal farmers, emerged as a major priority at the meeting.
Chouhan emphasised integrated farming systems as an important pathway for diversifying farm incomes and reducing farmers’ dependence on a single agricultural activity.
He also stressed the need for timely access to quality seeds and planting material, balanced fertiliser use, improved soil health and wider adoption of sustainable farming practices.
The approach seeks to combine different farm enterprises and resources to improve productivity, resilience and income opportunities at the farm level.
The Agriculture Minister also pushed for stronger collaboration between ICAR institutions and industry to ensure that technologies developed in laboratories reach farmers faster.
He highlighted the need to move agricultural innovations beyond research institutions and convert them into practical technologies, products and solutions that can be deployed at scale.
The focus, he said, should be on creating stronger links between research, industry and farmers, enabling faster commercialisation and field-level adoption.
With India seeking to expand its presence in global agricultural markets, Chouhan called for greater attention to quality, nutrition, food processing, packaging, shelf life and compliance with international standards.
The objective is not only to increase agricultural output but also to improve the value and marketability of Indian agricultural products.
This would help farmers and agri-businesses capture greater value while strengthening India's export competitiveness.
Calling for a more outcome-oriented research ecosystem, Chouhan urged greater dialogue among scientists, policymakers, farmers, industry and other stakeholders.
He said clearer research priorities and stronger coordination were necessary to ensure that innovative ideas move from laboratories to the field.
“Our hard work, our research and our efforts can transform India’s image and change the destiny of our farmers,” he said.
Union Minister of State for Agriculture Shri Bhagirath Choudhary said India has made significant progress in agriculture and allied sectors since 2014, but the next priority is to strengthen self-reliance.
He highlighted the need to improve domestic capacity in pulses, oilseeds, seeds, livestock and value-added processing.
Choudhary also stressed climate-resilient agriculture, soil health, sustainable resource management, stronger Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and better market linkages.
He underlined the role of ICAR and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in taking scientific knowledge, technology and innovation directly to farmers.
Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Shri S. P. Singh Baghel highlighted the growth recorded across India’s agricultural and allied sectors, including foodgrains, horticulture, dairy, fisheries, meat and eggs.
He attributed the transformation to scientific research, technology adoption and the combined efforts of scientists, farmers and governments.
Baghel highlighted India’s position as the world’s largest milk producer and the growth of fisheries production and exports. He called for greater integration of agriculture with livestock, dairy, fisheries and poultry to create additional income opportunities and strengthen the rural economy.
Presenting ICAR’s key achievements, Dr M. L. Jat, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR, highlighted the Council’s progress in science-led and farmer-focused agricultural development.
According to the presentation, India’s foodgrain production increased by around 19 million tonnes, while horticulture, milk and fisheries also recorded significant growth.
ICAR reported the release of 386 new crop varieties, of which:
The new varieties are expected to contribute to productivity, climate resilience and nutritional security.
ICAR also highlighted research advances in genomics, genome editing, livestock health, fisheries, soil health and natural farming.
Among the major scientific developments was the indigenous African Swine Fever vaccine, described as a significant breakthrough for pig health and the livelihoods of pig farmers.
ICAR also reported increased efforts to convert research into technologies and market opportunities.
Around 805 intellectual property applications were filed during the past year, while technology commercialisation was strengthened across 36 ICAR institutions.
The Council also highlighted the National Gender Platform for Agri-Food Systems, which now connects more than 9,000 establishments, with the objective of strengthening women's participation in agriculture and agri-food systems.
During the AGM, an MoU was signed with industry and CSR donors to strengthen CSR partnerships with ICAR.
The collaboration is expected to support agricultural research and development while improving resource mobilisation and cooperation between research institutions and the private sector.
Four ICAR publications were also released during the meeting.
The AGM considered updates and amendments to the Rules and Bye-laws of the ICAR Society, while members shared suggestions on the Council’s achievements and future research priorities.
Union and State Ministers participating in the AGM expressed satisfaction with the growth in foodgrain production and broader developments in the agriculture sector.
They reaffirmed the importance of stronger Centre-State collaboration to improve agricultural outcomes and support farmers’ prosperity.
The meeting concluded with the adoption of the ICAR Annual Report 2025-26 and the Annual Accounts along with the Auditor’s Report for 2024-25.
The 97th AGM signals a clear shift towards impact-driven agricultural research, where scientific breakthroughs are expected to translate into measurable benefits on farms.
For farmers, the priorities emerging from the meeting point towards greater emphasis on income diversification, climate resilience, quality planting material, soil health, technology adoption, market access and value addition.
For ICAR, the message is equally clear: research outcomes will increasingly be judged not only by what is developed in laboratories, but by how quickly and effectively those innovations reach farmers and markets.
