ICAR Task Force Tackles Global Ag Challenges

New Delhi, Apr 7 (PTI) The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has constituted a high-level special task force to address emerging global challenges to the agricultural sector and develop mitigation strategies, the agriculture ministry said on Tuesday.

The task force held its first meeting under the chairmanship of the Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), and Director General, ICAR, during which a comprehensive action framework was outlined to safeguard national food and input security, it said in a statement.

Among the key decisions, the council resolved to intensify the 'Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav' (MGMG) programme, broadening its scope to improve farmer outreach. The expanded initiative will specifically target 100 aspirational districts, using existing organisational infrastructure to deliver complete packages of agricultural practices and build ground-level confidence among farmers.

A dedicated campaign on balanced fertiliser use and bio-inputs is also being launched.


As part of this, ICAR will undertake district-wise assessments to rationalise fertiliser consumption in major crops -- particularly wheat and rice -- with the aim of improving resource use efficiency.

ICAR has initiated detailed mapping of millet-growing regions to optimise land-use efficiency. In low-productivity rice cultivation areas, the council is promoting high-value alternatives, including eco-fisheries integration, to improve farmer incomes during the Kharif season.

On the mechanisation front, the task force is emphasising Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) as a key intervention. This will be supported by a strengthened All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Meteorology, which will provide real-time advisories to farmers.

To ensure accountability, nodal officers have been designated within each subject matter division to track weekly progress and coordinate a consolidated actionable plan across priority areas.

The task force will meet as and when the situation demands, drawing on institutional feedback and in-house expertise to provide data-backed inputs to the government, the ministry added.