Wed Dec 25 15:12:39 UTC 2024: ## Vice President Calls for ICAR Overhaul to Better Serve Indian Farmers
**Hyderabad, December 25, 2024** – Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has issued a strong call for the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to undergo a comprehensive self-audit, citing insufficient focus on agricultural development and the needs of Indian farmers. Speaking at the Natural and Organic Farmers’ Summit 2024, he questioned the impact of ICAR’s substantial resources – a budget exceeding ₹8,000 crore and nearly 25,000 employees, including 5,000 scientists – on the farming community.
Dhankhar emphasized the need for ICAR’s 150 institutes, agricultural universities, and over 700 Krishi Vigyan Kendras to prioritize farmer-centric initiatives, transforming them into hubs of innovation directly addressing farmers’ needs. He suggested measures like daily farmer visits to research centers to facilitate knowledge exchange.
The Vice President highlighted the crucial role of rural development in achieving India’s 2047 vision, stressing the need to increase per capita income and uplift the farming community. He also advocated for reforms in the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme and fertilizer subsidies, urging for mechanisms to ensure that benefits reach farmers directly and efficiently. He linked these reforms to the promotion of natural and organic farming practices.
Expressing concern over challenges to India’s progress, both internal and external, Dhankhar called for prioritizing nationalism and a “Nation First” approach. As India prepares for the silver jubilee of Farmer’s Day in 2026, Dhankhar’s call for ICAR reform signals a significant push for greater impact and efficiency within the agricultural research sector.
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