Hon’ble Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare virtually lays the Foundation Stones of KVKs of ICAR-IISR, Lucknow and ICAR-CTRI, Rajahmundry

Shri Narendra Singh Tomer, Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Govt. of India laid the foundation stone of two Krishi Vigyan Kendras at Lakhimpur Kheri (U.P.) and Kandukur, Prakasam District (Andhra Pradesh). These KVKs have been sanctioned as the second KVKs of these districts. Speaking on the occasion, Sh. Tomer highlighted the need of linking the farmers with the technology for accruing the benefits of farm research being conducted at various institutions. He urged the Scientists of KVKs to organize FPOs in their area to organize the farmers to enhance their capacities and be instrumental in delivering the Special Package fund announced for infrastructural development of various sectors of the agriculture by the Hon’ble Prime Minister. Lakhimpur Kheri being the largest district of Uttar Pradesh and having about 70% of the total cultivated area under sugarcane and nine sugar mills will act as mouthpiece of the IISR for transferring the latest production technology as well as improved varieties for the gross benefits of the farmers.

Sh. Kailash Choudhary, Hon’ble Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India appreciated the efforts of KVKs located across the country for enhancing the income of the farmers and urged the farmers to work for Atmanirbhar Bharat by organizing FPOs.

Sh. Surya Pratap Shahi, Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture, Agriculture Education and Agricultural Research, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh congratulated the Hon’ble Prime Minister and Union Agriculture Minister for sanctioning second KVK for Lakhimpur Kheri. Sh. Shahi expressed his confidence that the farmers of Lakhimpur Kheri will be benefitted by the KVK established under the administrative control of ICAR-IISR, Lucknow in the form of improved varieties with matching agro-technologies. Sh. Ajay Mishra ‘Teni’, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Lakhimpur Kheri and Sh. Adala Prabhakara Reddy, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Nellore also addressed on the occasion and congratulated the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Chief Ministers and the Union Agriculture Minister for extending infrastructural facilities in their constituencies for the upliftment of the farmers.

Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary, DARE and DG, ICAR welcomed the Chief Guest, Guests of Honours and other dignitaries. He hoped that the income of the farmers of these areas will also be doubled by following the integrated planning and strategy at the KVK level, using IISR Model of Doubling Farmers Income. Dr. A.K. Singh, DDG (Agricultural Extension), ICAR. New Delhi proposed the vote of thanks to all the Guests and dignitories. The programme was coordinated and conducted by Dr. A.D. Pathak, Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow. Large number of ICAR Officers including Dr. T.R. Sharma, DDG (CS), Dr. B.N. Tripathi, DDG (AS), Dr. R.K. Singh, ADG (CC), Dr. V.P. Chahal, ADG (Ag. Extension), Dr. Y.G. Prasad, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Hyderabad; Dr. Atar Singh, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Kanpur and Dr. A. Damodar Reddy, Director, ICAR-CTRI, Rajahmundry participated in the function.