New Delhi: A high-level stakeholders’ consultation meeting under the theme “Transforming Agriculture Research – Enhancing the Role of Private Sector” was convened today at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi. The session, chaired by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Bhagirath Choudhary, brought together over 1,000 participants, including representatives from ICAR Institutes, agricultural universities, the private sector, progressive farmers, and various government departments. The meeting aimed to explore ways to boost agricultural research, productivity, and resilience through increased private sector participation and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).
The session was moderated by Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), and Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The hybrid event featured both in-person and virtual participation from agricultural experts across India.
In his opening remarks, Bhagirath Choudhary emphasized the potential of India’s agricultural landscape and the need to shift focus toward income-generating opportunities for small and marginal farmers. He highlighted the importance of leveraging private sector innovation to address the evolving challenges in agriculture.
The consultation featured keynote addresses from esteemed speakers such as Dr. S. Ayyappan, Former Secretary, DARE and DG, ICAR; Dr. Ashok Dalwai, Former CEO, National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA); Prof. Sudhir K. Sopory, Former Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU); and Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Chairperson of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority. These experts shared insights on the future direction of agricultural research and the critical role of private sector collaboration.
The consultation centered on two key areas of discussion:
- Reviewing Agricultural Research for Enhanced Productivity and Resilience: This segment focused on improving the research framework to tackle issues such as climate change and food security. Panelists included Dr. Praveen Rao, Former Vice Chancellor of PJTSAU, Hyderabad; Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment, Odisha; Dr. Ram Koundinya, DG, Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII); and Kanwal Singh Chauhan, Padma Shri Awardee and Progressive Farmer from Haryana. They emphasized the need for innovative research and technology adoption to meet the growing demands of the agriculture sector.
- Public-Private Partnerships for Enhanced Research Outcomes: The second discussion focused on the role of PPPs in advancing agricultural research through “challenge mode” funding. Notable speakers included Dr. A.K. Singh, Former Director, IARI, New Delhi; Dr. K.B. Kathiria, Vice Chancellor, Anand Agricultural University, Gujarat; and Dr. Surinder Tikoo, Director, ATPBR, Hyderabad. They highlighted how private sector collaboration could accelerate the development and dissemination of new technologies to farmers.