Union Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Minister inaugurated Kisan Mela
A Kisan Mela was organized at the ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack on February 26, 2019. Shri Radha Mohan Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship graced as the Guest of Honour and jointly inaugurated the Kisan Mela. Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary, DARE and DG, ICAR along with several dignitaries graced the occasion. Over 4000 farmers and farmwomen, scientists and senior officials from ICAR, OUAT, KVKs, state line departments, exhibitors, media personnel and other stakeholders from various districts of Odisha participated in the Mela.
Addressing the farmers, Hon’ble Union Minister Shri Radha Mohan Singh emphasized the commitment of central government to achieve the goal of doubling farmers’ income by 2022. He also spoke about various achievements of the flagship schemes of the government related to agriculture and allied sectors. In his speech, he gave an account on how the schemes like e-NAM, MSP, RKVY, NFSM, NHM, PMKSY, PMFBY etc are benefitting millions of farmers across the country. During his speech, he fundamentally emphasized on development of villages and farmers to achieve the goal of inclusive national development.
While addressing the gathering, Hon’ble Union Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan emphasized on functional and technical linkage between Agriculture and Petroleum Ministries. He said that if the major portion of agricultural wastes can be used for energy generation, it would be a significant move to augment farmers’ income and it will help in making India independent in energy sector.
Before addressing the gathering, Shri Radha Mohan Singh and Shri Dharmendra Pradhan jointly inaugurated the newly built ‘Central Genomics and Quality Laboratory’ of the institute, first of its kind in the country, and dedicated it to the farmers of the nation. This Genomic Research Centre is a technological cluster of 11 laboratories equipped with modern technologies namely – Environmental Soil Science Laboratory, Soil Quality Laboratory, Pesticide Residue Laboratory, Genomic Selection Laboratory, Marker Assisted Selection Laboratory, Bioinformatics and SNP Genotyping Laboratory, Grain Quality Laboratory, Food Proximate Analysis Laboratory, Molecular Biochemistry Laboratory, Nutrition and Sensory Laboratory.
On this occasion, both Hon’ble Union Ministers also jointly inaugurated several public amenities like Arunodyoy Post Office, Cuttack Railway Station, laid foundation stones of ICAR-CIWA Guest House and Sishu Sadan at K.G. National Memorial Trust, Satyabhamapur and announced extension of one train & new stoppages of two trains through e-Plaques in the presence of other dignitaries. He also distributed aids and appliances to over twenty Divyangs as a CSR initiative by ONGC. Ten best farmers and farmwomen were felicitated by the union ministers on the occasion for use of innovative practices in farming in doubling their farm income.
During the Mela, an ‘Agricultural Exhibition’ was organized with the participation of over 40 private and public organizations to demonstrate and make aware the uses of various latest and cost effective agricultural technologies, innovations in agricultural sciences, farm machineries etc to the visiting farmers and stakeholders. On this occasion a ‘Farmer-Scientist Interaction/Kisan Gosthi’ was also organized in which the scientists discussed with farmers about the problems related to farming and suggested fruitful ways to sort out. A visit to the experimental farm and Oryza museum of the institute was organized in which the scientists made the farmers to know about the new techniques of rice-based farming.
At the outset of the programme, Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary, DARE and DG, ICAR welcomed the Union Ministers, other dignitaries, invited guests and farmers and briefed about various research achievements of the ICAR in achieving national food and nutritional security and bringing prosperity and economic security to our farming communities. At the end, Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director of the institute offered formal vote of thanks.
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 Union Minister Sri Radha Mohan Singh addressing the gathering |
 Union Minister Sri Dharmendra Pradhan addressing the gathering |
 Inauguration of e-Plaques of various public amenities by Union Ministers |
 Union Ministers and other dignitaries visiting Exhibition Stalls |
 Best Farmers and Farmwomen being felicitated by the Union Ministers |
 Farmers and visitors visiting Exhibition Stalls |
 Newly inaugurated Central Genomics and Quality Laboratory |
 A section of the audience during the Kisan Mela |