Revolutionizing Agriculture Research: India’s Stakeholder Consultation Emphasizes Private Sector Role
On September 3, 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare of India hosted a landmark stakeholder consultation at Krishi Bhawan under the theme “Transforming Agriculture Research – Enhancing the Role of the Private Sector.” This pivotal meeting, chaired by Shri Bhagirath Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and 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), saw an impressive turnout of over 1,000 participants from across India.
High-Level Participation and Key Discussions
The hybrid format of the consultation facilitated widespread participation from various stakeholders, including representatives from ICAR Institutes, Central and State Agricultural Universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), private sector organizations, and senior officials from both State and Central Government departments. Progressive farmers, farmer producer organizations (FPOs), and other key players in the agricultural sector also contributed to the discussions.
The consultation began with a comprehensive overview provided by Dr. Chaturvedi and Dr. Pathak. Shri Bhagirath Choudhary’s opening remarks underscored the vast potential within the Indian agricultural sector and emphasized the necessity of focusing on increasing incomes for small and marginal farmers while reducing agricultural costs.
Insights from Key Experts
The keynote addresses included valuable insights from notable figures such as Dr. S. Ayyappan, Former Secretary of DARE and DG of ICAR; Dr. Ashok Dalwai, Former CEO of the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA); Prof. Sudhir K. Sopory, Former Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University and Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra [ The Chairperson of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority ].
The discussions centered on two main areas:
- Enhancing Agricultural Research Setup: Experts like Dr. Praveen Rao, Former Vice Chancellor of PJTSAU; Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment in Odisha; and Dr. Ram Koundinya, DG of the Federation of Seed Industry of India, shared insights on improving productivity and resilience in agriculture.
- Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): This segment focused on innovative funding mechanisms and collaborative models to drive agricultural research. Contributions from figures such as Dr. A.K. Singh, Former Director of IARI, and Dr. K.B. Kathiria, Vice Chancellor of Anand Agricultural University, highlighted the benefits of enhanced public-private collaboration.
Strategic Implications and Future Actions
The consultation aimed to identify practical, ground-level issues that can be addressed to strengthen public-private partnerships and enhance agricultural research outcomes. A roadmap for integrating new technologies and improving agricultural practices will be developed based on the recommendations of this session. These recommendations will be presented to the Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare for further consideration.
The session concluded with a vote of thanks from Shri Sanjay Garg, Additional Secretary of DARE, who expressed gratitude to all participants for their significant contributions and active engagement.
This consultation marks a significant step towards advancing agricultural research in India and underscores the pivotal role of the private sector in transforming the agricultural landscape.
