ICAR AGM Charts Roadmap for Farmer-Centric and Transformative Agriculture
New Delhi, August 18, 2026: The 97th Annual General Meeting of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Society was held today at the National Agricultural Science Complex in New Delhi, with Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan calling for a demand-driven research ecosystem focused on farmers’ needs, market demand and consumer requirements.
Chairing the meeting, Chouhan said the vision of a developed India could not be achieved without a developed agriculture sector. He stressed the need for India to move beyond increasing production and build a stronger identity “from farm to global market”.
The Union Minister said the next phase of agricultural transformation must focus on increasing farm incomes and strengthening the resilience of small and marginal farmers. He highlighted integrated farming systems, timely availability of quality seeds and planting material, balanced fertilizer use, improved soil health and sustainable farming practices.
Chouhan also called for greater focus on export competitiveness through quality, nutrition, processing, packaging, shelf life and compliance with international standards. He urged stronger partnerships between ICAR and industry to accelerate the transfer of research-based technologies to farmers.
“Research alone is not enough; the right research, at the right time, must address the right problem and reach the farmer quickly,” he said, underlining the importance of measurable outcomes from agricultural research.
Union Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary said India had made significant progress in agriculture and allied sectors since 2014, with self-reliance now emerging as a key priority. He called for greater self-sufficiency in pulses, oilseeds, seeds, livestock and value-added processing, along with climate-resilient agriculture, soil health and sustainable resource management.
Choudhary also emphasised stronger Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and market linkages to improve farm incomes. He highlighted the role of ICAR and Krishi Vigyan Kendras in taking scientific innovations to farmers and said self-reliant agriculture would be critical to achieving the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying S.P. Singh Baghel highlighted India’s progress in foodgrains, horticulture, dairy, fisheries, meat and egg production. He stressed greater integration of agriculture and allied sectors, including livestock, dairy, fisheries and poultry, to increase farmers’ incomes and strengthen the rural economy.
Presenting ICAR’s key achievements, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education, and Director General, ICAR, Dr M.L. Jat said the Council had accelerated science-led and farmer-centric agricultural transformation during the past year.
Foodgrain production increased by about 19 million tonnes, while horticulture, milk and fisheries also registered growth. ICAR released 386 new crop varieties, including 94% climate-resilient and 29 biofortified varieties.
Dr Jat highlighted advances in genomics, genome editing, livestock health, fisheries, soil health and natural farming. The indigenous African Swine Fever vaccine was cited as a major scientific breakthrough supporting pig health and farmers’ livelihoods.
ICAR also filed around 805 intellectual property applications during the year, while technology commercialization was strengthened across 36 institutions. The National Gender Platform for Agri-Food Systems now connects more than 9,000 establishments, promoting women’s participation in agriculture.
The meeting also witnessed the release of the ICAR Annual Report 2025–26 and the adoption of annual accounts for 2024–25. An MoU was signed with industry and CSR donors to strengthen partnerships and resource mobilisation for agricultural research and development.
Four ICAR publications were also released, while proposed amendments to the Society’s Rules and Bye-laws were considered.
Union and State Ministers participating in the meeting expressed satisfaction with the progress in agricultural production and reaffirmed their commitment to Centre-State cooperation for farmers’ prosperity.
The AGM concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthening agricultural research, innovation and technology-led development, with a focus on farmer welfare, food and nutritional security, sustainability and a self-reliant agricultural sector.
