Shri Rohan Khaunte, Hon'ble Minister for Tourism, Govt of Goa inaugurated a Winter School on Agro-Ecotourism at ICAR-CCARI, Goa

    The ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-CCARI) in collaboration with the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) and the Association for Coastal Agricultural Research (ACAR), inaugurated a 21-day (3-23 February 2025) ICAR-sponsored Winter School on Building Climate Resilience and Sustainability through Agro-Ecotourism. The Winter School is sponsored by the Education Division, ICAR, New Delhi. The program brought together 23 participants from 13 states across India to promote sustainable agriculture and agro-ecotourism practices.

    Shri Rohan Khaunte, Hon'ble Minister for Tourism, Information Technology, Printing, and Stationery, the Government of Goa, served as the Chief Guest and inaugurated the Winter School. Shri Rohan Khaunte praised ICAR-CCARI for its remarkable contributions to Goa's agricultural development and assured the Government of Goa's continued support for research and development initiatives in the sector. He emphasized the importance of agro-ecotourism in strengthening the state's agricultural economy while maintaining environmental sustainability. He further talked about regenerative tourism for the restoration of the ecosystems and highlighted ‘Goa beyond beaches’. He enlightened the participants on initiatives of the Government of Goa for promotion of the tourism sustainably and in a regenerative manner.

    Dr. Rakesh Chandra Agrawal, Deputy Director General (Education), ICAR, New Delhi, presided over the event and delivered the Presidential Address. He emphasized that the Winter School on Agroecotourism is a unique initiative that will empower participants to become ambassadors for promoting agroecotourism in their respective regions.

Dr. Parveen Kumar, Director of ICAR-CCARI, welcomed the dignitaries and provided an overview of the institute and the conceptualization of the Winter School. He emphasized that this program is a pioneering initiative aimed at sensitizing participants to the potential of agroecotourism.

    The inauguration ceremony showcased Goa's rich cultural heritage, featuring décor inspired by traditional Kaavi art and creative coconut crafts. A green initiative emphasizing eco-friendly decorations and materials highlighted the event's sustainability theme. These innovative elements earned widespread appreciation from the dignitaries, including the Chief Guest. The program also featured the release of a comprehensive training manual and Lehrein (Hindi) and participant introductions.

    The programme was attended by Shri. Shawn Mendis, OSD, Honorable Minister of Tourism, Shri. Gavin Dias, GM, GTDC, Shri. Deepak Nagvekar, DGM, GTDC,  Dr. D. Antoine, Dean, GCVAS, Dr. Sanjeev Kunkalinkar, Dean, GCA, Goa. The staff of ICAR-CCARI and KVK and the press and media attended the programme.

    Dr. R. Solomon Rajkumar, Course Director, thanked the dignitaries and participants in a heartfelt vote of thanks.