Vice President’s call to ICAR, prioritize farmers to increase per capita income

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar emphasized the need for a comprehensive self-examination of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutions with inadequate focus on agriculture and rural development.

Addressing the Natural and Organic Farmers Conference 2024 organized by the ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, he asked the organizations to assess their contribution to the farming community. “We have not paid enough attention to agriculture and agricultural development”, said the Vice President. “ICAR employs about 25,000 people, including 5,000 scientists, with a budget of over Rs 8,000 crore. It’s time to ask ourselves: Who are we doing research for? Are we making a meaningful impact on farmers’ lives?” He called for self-audits within ICAR institutions to ensure that they provide practical solutions for farmers and suggested initiatives like daily farmer visits to research centers to promote knowledge sharing.

Highlighting the importance of rural development, the Vice-President emphasized its pivotal role in achieving India’s vision for 2047. “A developed India is no longer a dream but a goal. Rural systems and farmers will play the most important role in realizing this vision. To achieve this, we must focus on increasing per capita income and uplifting the farming community,” he said.

As the nation prepares to celebrate the silver jubilee of Kisan Divas in 2026, Mr. Dhankhar urged ICAR’s 150 institutes, agricultural universities and over 700 agricultural science centers to prioritize farmer-centric initiatives. “These institutions should become vibrant hubs of innovation, addressing the needs of farmers and contributing meaningfully to rural development,” he added.

The Vice President also addressed the need for reforms in the Pradhan Mantri-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme and fertilizer subsidy. “While this scheme will benefit farmers three times a year, inflation adjustment is necessary. Additionally, we must ensure that fertilizer subsidies reach farmers directly. Organizations like ICAR and Krishi Vigyan Kendras must create mechanisms to streamline these benefits,” he said. He emphasized these reforms to promote natural and organic farming practices, stressing their potential to transform Indian agriculture.

Expressing concern over external and internal challenges to India’s progress, Mr. Dhankhar remarked, “There is a sinister convergence of forces opposed to India’s development. These forces propagate narratives that hinder development. We must prioritize nationalism and work in the spirit of ‘Rashtra First’.”