Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

In News: Recently, under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)s initiative ‘Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav’, cleanliness drive was carried out in few villages of Goa along with guidance to village panchayats on waste disposal.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research

It is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
It was established on 16 July 1929 and was formerly known as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research.
It is headquartered at New Delhi.
It is the apex body for coordinating, guiding and managing research and education in agriculture including horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences in the entire country.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous body responsible for coordinating agricultural education and research in India.
- It reports to the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture.
- The Union Minister of Agriculture serves as its president.
- It is the largest network of agricultural research and education institutes in the world.
The committee to Advise on Renovation and Rejuvenation of Higher Education (Yashpal Committee, 2009) has recommended setting up of a constitutional body – the National Commission for Higher Education and Research – which would be a unified supreme body to regulate all branches of higher education including agricultural education.
Presently, regulation of agricultural education is the mandate of ICAR, Veterinary Council of India (Veterinary sub-discipline) and Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (Forestry sub-discipline).
The UPA government has included Yashpal Committee recommendations in its ‘100 days agenda’ premier institute of agriculture in India.

Role of ICAR

To plan, undertake, aid, promote and coordinate education, research and its application in agriculture, animal science, fisheries, agro-forestry and allied sciences.
To act as a clearing house for research and general information relating to agriculture, animal husbandry, fishery, agroforestry, home science and allied sciences through its publications and information system and instituting and promoting transfer of technology programmes.
To provide, undertake and promote consultancy services in the field of research, education, training and dissemination of information in agriculture, animal science, fisheries, agroforestry, home science and other allied sciences;
To look the problems relating to broader areas of rural development concerning agriculture, including post harvest technology by developing cooperative programmes with other organisations such as the Indian council of social Science Research, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, state Agricultural Universities etc.;
To do other things considered necessary to attain the objectives of the society.

Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav:

The scheme was launched in 2015.
The scheme envisages scientists to select villages as per their convenience and remain in touch with the selected villages and provide information to the farmers on technical and other related aspects of agriculture in a time frame through personal visits or on telephone.
They may function with the help of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA).

Objective: