Shivraj Singh Chouhan calls for practical agricultural research

At the 36th annual conference of agricultural university vice-chancellors in New Delhi, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasized that agricultural research must move beyond laboratories and provide practical solutions to farmers' real-world problems.

The conference, involving officials from the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), focused on reforming agricultural education to meet future challenges. Chouhan stated that the success of agricultural education should be measured by the practical knowledge and skills imparted to students and the tangible impact on farmers' lives, rather than the number of degrees awarded.

To achieve a developed agricultural sector, the Minister called for increased coordination between universities, ICAR, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), industry, and farmers. He urged universities to create clear action plans and measure the actual outcomes of their research to address issues such as climate change and rapid technological shifts.