ICAR – CCARI Celebrates Kisan Diwas

ICAR – Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Ela, Old Goa and ICAR – Krishi Vigyan Kendra, North Goa celebrated ‘Kisan Diwas’ on 23rd December 2021 on the birthday of the 5th Prime Minister of India, Shri Choudhary Charan Singh, a farmer's leader, who introduced many policies to improve the lives of the Indian farmers. Dr. Parveen Kumar, Director, ICAR – CCARI applauded the farmers for their role in achieving food security and the untiring effort to produce surplus food production amid the pandemic situation of COVID-19. He further stressed on improving the cropping intensity and promotion of organic farming. On the occasion, he congratulated the farmers who received the appreciation from the Institute. Shri Uttam Murgaonkar, Sarpanch, Carambolim Panchayat, highlighted the problems faced by Karmali farmers especially in coastal saline soils, locally called khazan lands, and urged scientists for developing climate-resilient technologies for the benefit of the farmers. He heartily thanked the Institute and KVK for the support extended to the farmers. Dr. R L Meena, Principal Scientist, ICAR – CSSRI, Karnal enlightened the farmers about problems and constraints of the salt-affected soil and the technologies developed by ICAR-CSSRI, Karnal, a premier Institute working on soil salinity research, for utilizing these problem soils. Shri H.R.C.Prabhu, Senior Scientist & Head I/C, KVK-North Goa, welcomed the guests and participants and informed them about the importance of celebrating ‘Kisan Diwas’. The progressive farmers benefited from the Institute and KVK support and were awarded by the Goa State Level Awards - Krushi Vibhushan Awardee Smt. Anita Mattew Vallikkappem, Assonoda and Shri Deelip Narulkar, Pernem, who received Fr. Inacio Almeida Annual Awardee for Organic farming were felicitated for their untiring efforts and innovativeness to make farming a sustainable and profitable venture. Progressive farmers, Shri Suhas Hari Phadte, Smt. Hema Bugde, Smt. Vishranti Surlakar and Shri Sadanand Gaude were felicitated for their cooperation to transfer of ICAR-CCARI technologies and transfer of technology programmes of KVK. The farmers have been a source of motivation and inspiration for the fellow farmers. Shri Deelip Narulkar appealed the fellow farmers to be innovative and build entrepreneurship in agriculture in general and organic farming in particular. Smt. Sunetra Talaulikar, SMS (Home Science), KVK proposed a vote of thanks. Dr. Monica Singh, SMS (Agril Extension) and Shri. Shashi Vishwakarma, Tech Officer coordinated the program. The programme was attended by 95 farmers, farm women, scientists and staff of the Institute and KVK.