Global Dryland Congress 2026 to begin in New Delhi; over 800 experts to participate

September 10, 2026 10:18 AM

Global Dryland Congress 2026 to begin in New Delhi; over 800 experts to participate

More than 800 scientists, policymakers, farmer representatives and development partners from across Asia, Africa and the Americas will converge in New Delhi for the three-day Global Dryland Congress 2026, beginning Thursday. The Congress, themed ‘Transforming Dryland Agriculture with South-South Cooperation’, is being jointly organised by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). The event will be ...

AI learns to track Mithun behaviour in real time, opening new possibilities for livestock management

September 8, 2026 11:19 PM

AI learns to track Mithun behaviour in real time, opening new possibilities for livestock management

Researchers at the ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun (ICAR-NRC on Mithun) in Nagaland have developed an artificial intelligence-based system that can detect and track the behaviour of Mithun in real time, a development that could transform livestock monitoring and help farmers manage animal health, welfare and reproduction more efficiently. Mithun, scientifically known as Bos frontalis and popularly called the “Cattle of the Hills”, holds considerable social, cultural and economic imp...

Agriculture, rural development departments to work on ‘Shakti Ki Saptadhara’ roadmap: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

August 18, 2026 7:16 PM

Agriculture, rural development departments to work on ‘Shakti Ki Saptadhara’ roadmap: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday called for a coordinated effort among farmers, scientists, government officials, food processors, exporters, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and rural women to translate Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Shakti Ki Saptadhara’ vision into action and make Indian agriculture prosperous, self-reliant and globally competitive. Addressing a commitment programme organised for departments u...

ICAR’s 97th AGM charts roadmap for farmer-centric, demand-driven agricultural research

August 18, 2026 6:04 PM

ICAR’s 97th AGM charts roadmap for farmer-centric, demand-driven agricultural research

Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday called for a demand-driven agricultural research ecosystem that places farmers, markets and consumers at the centre, stressing that research should translate into faster and measurable benefits on the ground. Addressing the 97th Annual General Meeting of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Society at the National Agricultural Science Complex in New Delhi, Chouhan said the vision of a developed Indi...

ICAR develops 386 improved crop varieties in a year, majority climate-resilient: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

July 16, 2026 5:12 PM

ICAR develops 386 improved crop varieties in a year, majority climate-resilient: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed 386 improved crop varieties across 44 crops over the past year, with 94 per cent being climate-resilient and 29 biofortified, said Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday.   Speaking at the 98th Foundation Day celebrations of ICAR in New Delhi, Chouhan described the premier agricultural research institution as the "trailblazer of India's agricultural transformation", crediting its scient...

ICAR sets up special task force to boost agricultural resilience amid global challenges

April 7, 2026 5:07 PM

ICAR sets up special task force to boost agricultural resilience amid global challenges

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has constituted a high-level Special Task Force (STF) to develop strategies aimed at strengthening India’s agricultural resilience in the face of evolving global geopolitical challenges. The decision was taken during the first meeting of the task force, chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of ICAR, where a comprehensive framework was outlined to ensure national food and ...

Shivraj Singh inaugurates new administrative building at ICAR–IIMR, Ludhiana

October 14, 2025 10:31 PM

Shivraj Singh inaugurates new administrative building at ICAR–IIMR, Ludhiana

Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday inaugurated the newly constructed administrative building of the ICAR–Indian Institute of Maize Research (ICAR–IIMR) during his visit to Ludhiana, Punjab. The visit also included interactions with maize stakeholders, farmers, beneficiaries of rural development schemes, and members of women Self-Help Groups (SHGs), followed by a press conference on key agricultural initiatives for the sta...

Government to set up dedicated ICAR team for sugarcane research: Shivraj Singh

September 30, 2025 10:16 PM

Government to set up dedicated ICAR team for sugarcane research: Shivraj Singh

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday announced that a separate team will be established within the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for sugarcane research and policy development. Speaking at a national seminar on the sugarcane economy - jointly organised by Rural Voice, the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories, and ICAR - Singh said the new initiative would focus on practical issues facing farmers and the sugar industry. Th...

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurates annual conference of agricultural universities and ICAR directors

May 20, 2025 6:20 PM

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurates annual conference of agricultural universities and ICAR directors

Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, inaugurated the Annual Conference of Vice-Chancellors of Agricultural Universities and Directors of ICAR Institutes at the Dr. C. Subramaniam Auditorium, NASC Complex, Pusa, New Delhi. The event was announced through an official statement by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare on Tuesday. Addressing the gathering, Chouhan lauded the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) a...

India unveils world’s first genome-edited rice; Shivraj Singh Chouhan hails “historic milestone”

May 5, 2025 1:39 PM

India unveils world’s first genome-edited rice; Shivraj Singh Chouhan hails “historic milestone”

India has become the first country in the world to develop genome-edited rice varieties, Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced on Sunday. Developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the new rice varieties — DRR Rice 100 (Kamala) and Pusa DST Rice 1 — are expected to significantly increase crop yields, improve climate resilience, and reduce water usage. Calling it a “historic milestone in scientific research,” Chouhan, speaki...