Definition of The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is a self-governing body in India that coordinates agricultural education and research. It reports to the Ministry of Agriculture's Department of Agricultural Research and Education. Its president is the Union Minister of Agriculture. It is one of the largest networks of agricultural research and education institutes in the world. The current director of Indian Council of Agricultural Research is Trilochan Mohapatra. It works under the motto, “Agrisearch with a human touch.”
Constitutional Duties of the ICAR
- The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has the following mandate:
- Education, research, and its application in agriculture, agroforestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, home science, and allied sciences must be planned, undertaken, aided, promoted, and coordinated.
- Through its publications and information system, to serve as a clearing house for research and general information relating to agriculture, animal husbandry, home science and allied sciences, and fisheries; and to institute and promote technology transfer programs.
- To provide, conduct, and encourage consultancy services in agriculture, agroforestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, home science, and allied sciences in the areas of education, study, training, and knowledge dissemination.
- Investigate issues relating to wider areas of rural development in agriculture, including postharvest technology, by establishing collaborative programs with other organizations such as the Indian Council of Social Science Research, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, and universities.
- To do everything else deemed necessary to achieve the society's goals.
Contributions of the ICAR:
Through its research and technology growth, the ICAR has played a pioneering role in ushering in the Green Revolution and subsequent agricultural developments in India, enabling the country to increase production of foodgrains by 4 times, horticultural crops by 6 times, fish by 9 times (marine 5 times and inland 17 times), milk 6 times, and eggs 27 times since 1950-51, thus making a visible difference in the nutrition rate and food security index. It has played an important role in fostering excellence in agricultural higher education. It is involved in cutting-edge scientific and technological advancement, and its scientists are globally recognized in their fields.
The Council is the country's apex body for organising, directing, and overseeing agricultural research and education, including horticulture, fisheries, and animal sciences. This is one of the world's largest national agricultural systems, with 97 ICAR institutes and 45 agricultural universities spread across the region.
