Conference of VCs of Agricultural Universities and Directors of ICAR Institutes

NEW DELHI: Annual Conference of Vice-Chancellors of Agricultural Universities and Directors of ICAR Institutes was held on 22-24 January, 2016, at NASC Complex, New Delhi.

Radha Mohan Singh, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmer’s welfare was the Chief Guest of the event.  Singh in his address said Netaji left us a legacy of ideas, ideals and dreams and the most precious item in that legacy is his generous and imaginative approach towards achieving unity by respecting difference. The chief guest also emphasized the importance of distribution of soil health cards to prevent excessive use of fertilizers and stated that progress of “Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav” must be monitored to study its impact.

Dr. S. Ayyappan, Secretary DARE and DG, ICAR, presented the glimpses of National Agriculture Research and Education System (NARES) and informed that during the year of soils, 2015, Soil Health Cards were distributed by KVKs, Kissan Channel was launched and 93 climate resilient varieties have been developed by NARES.

S.K.Singh, Additional Secretary. & Financial Advisor (DARE), Shri C. Roul, Additional Secretary, DARE & Secretary, ICAR and Dr. N. S. Rathore, DDG (Agricultural Education.), ICAR also spoke on this occasion.

The dignitaries paid homage to the great leader, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose by offering floral tributes on his 119th birth anniversary.

The three universities viz. University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology, Bhubaneswar, were awarded first, second and third position, respectively, for achieving excellence in JRF examination conducted at all India level.  Among the category of large and small ICAR Institutes, the Best Annual Report Award 2014-15, was bestowed upon ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kerala and ICAR-National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research, respectively. Sh. Neelam Dutta, a progressive and innovative organic farmer from the Biswanath Charali, Sonitpur, Assam was awarded Haldhar Organic Farmer Award, 2014. Various CDs and books were also released by the Hon’ble Union Minister.

The Annual Vice-Chancellor’s Conference is the platform to review and refine and strengthen various programmes implemented by the Education Division of ICAR.