Inauguration of Agriculture Industry Stakeholders Regional Consultation Meet at ICAR-Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusanhan Sansthan (ICAR-VPKAS), Almora

A two days Agriculture Industry Stakeholders Regional Consultation Meet with the objective to promote the technologies developed by ICAR Institutes to reach the end users i.e. farmers through Agrinnovate, India Ltd. and private organizations is going to be organized at ICAR-VPKAS, Almora during January 30-31, 2024. The inauguration of the meet was held on January 30, 2024. The Chief Guest of the occasion was Prof. Satpal Singh Bisht, Vice-Chancelleor, SSJ University, Almora. Dr. Singh in his opening remarks appreciated the work done by ICAR-VPKAS, Almora in development of various technologies, which are being commercialized through private agencies and Agrinnovate India Ltd.. He urged the agriculture scientists to interact with students, farmers, stakeholders and resolve the local issues related to mountains. He stressed upon to include animal husbandry with agriculture.  In his words, the regional meet is a land mark event, which will lead to consultation in the form of knowledge, discussion and results. Dr. Praveen Malik, CEO, Agrinnovate India Ltd, the guest of the honor congratulated the ICAR-VPKAS, Almora team for the efforts to organize this Regional Meet. He urged the partners and the institutes to take their technologies together and transfer them to farmers’ fields. He said that lab to land program is being hampered because the farmers are not getting the new technologies. It is the duty of the all stakeholders to show them that these technologies are for enhancing their income with time saving. This saved time they can utilize to other income generating activities. He said that this type of meeting may have collaboration with institutes, stakeholders, state officials, farmers and industrialist. Dr. Lakshmi Kant, the Director of the institute welcomed the Chief Guest, Guest of Honor, all the representatives from ICAR Institutes, 18 SMS from NEH region, stakeholders, farmers, officials from various departments and gathering by appraising them about the institute’s research activities including developed technologies.

Dr. N.K. Hedau, Head, Crop Improvement Division and Chairman, ITMU informed the gathering about the purpose of the meeting and points to be discussed during the meet. Dr. K.K Mishra, Head, Crop Protection Division and Co-PI, ITMU presented the vote of thanks to all the participants and Dr Ashish Kumar Singh, Scientist, anchored the program. More than 90 participants from various ICAR Institutes, State Agriculture Universities, Line departments, KVKs, Industries participated in the meet. The two-days meet will cover the sessions, like Role and importance of Agrinnovate in commercialization of technologies, presentation by ICAR /SAU about technologies developed by them, interaction with stakeholders including Scientists, line department officials, progressive farmer’s & industrialists and feedback from stakeholders. On January 31, the developed technologies will be showcased for the entire participants. This meet will be helpful in generating collaborations between ICAR/SAUs, Line departments, KVKs, Industries, which intern lead to commercializing of agriculture technologies. A MoU was also signed by the Director, ICAR-VPKAS, Almora and Vice Chancellor, SSJ University, Almora for collaborating research at each other’s institute/ campus and to develop academic and developmental programmes.