www.spices.res.in

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Radha Mohan Singh visited ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode during 24-25 September 2016. He has visited the various laboratories of the Institute, Agricultural Technology Information Centre and interacted with the scientists and staff of IISR. The Minister chaired an exclusive review meeting on 24 September 2016 in which top officials from ICAR research institutes in Kerala, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Kerala Agricultural University and state department of agriculture participated. Ministers of State for Agriculture - Shri Sudarshan Bhagat and Shri Parshottam Rupala; ICAR Governing Body members - Shri Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre, Shri. R.P. Singh and Shri. Suresh Chandel were also present on the occasion. The Minister advised the ICAR institutes and University to take stock of all the farmer-centric ‘front-line’ extension programmes in the state during past two years. He recommended that all the details of participating farmers with field photographs may be uploaded in the Krishi portals to give wide publicity. Minister also reviewed the central sector schemes of Agriculture Department of Kerala – soil health management scheme and scheme on organic farming. He suggested the state officials to accelerate the coverage of programmes and submit regular progress and financial reports. He took a special note on the food security mission being implemented in the State.

In another function, held on 25 September 2016 at ICAR-IISR, the Hon’ble Minister presented the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Anthyodaya Agriculture Award 2016 to an aquafarmer, Shri. A. Baburaj of Kadalundi, Kerala. The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 50,000/- and a citation. Around 100 farmers from Kozhikode District have attended the function in which Dr. K. Nirmal Babu, Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode welcomed the gathering, Dr. Sreenath Dixit, Director, Agricultural Technology Application and Research Institute, Bengaluru, and Dr. B. Sasikumar, Head, Division of Crop Improvement & Biotechnology spoke. Shri. Sudarshan Bhagat, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, visited laboratories and experimental fields of ICAR-IISR on 26 September 2016 and addressed the staff.