Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Inaugurates 6th International Agronomy Congress
25 November 2025, New Delhi: Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, inaugurated the 6th International Agronomy Congress (IAC–2025) at the NPL Auditorium, Pusa Campus, New Delhi. The three-day global event, organised by the Indian Society of Agronomy (ISA) in collaboration with ICAR, IARI, NAAS and TAAS, will run until 26 November and has attracted more than 1,000 participants from across the world, including researchers, policymakers, students, development partners and leading international institutions such as FAO, CIMMYT, ICRISAT, IRRI, ICARDA and IFDC.
“Food security must go hand in hand with securing farmer livelihoods”
In his inaugural address, Chouhan urged agricultural scientists to focus on research that delivers direct, practical benefits to farmers, especially small and marginal producers. He stressed the importance of ensuring the availability of nutritious food grains while safeguarding the income and resilience of farmers amid changing climatic conditions.
Highlighting concerns over excessive chemical fertiliser use, he questioned the long-term impact on soil, environment, and future generations. He called for strengthening natural farming, boosting pulses and oilseed production, and addressing virus-related challenges in pulse crops.
Chouhan underlined the urgent need to restore soil organic carbon and micronutrients, improve direct-seeded rice systems through mechanisation, and create pathways for farmers to benefit from carbon credits. He emphasised scaling technologies such as AI, machine learning, drones and smart agriculture for smallholders, while calling for solutions that enhance the shelf life of agricultural produce.
“Integrated farming, climate resilience and farmer-centric science must lead the way”
Chouhan appealed to agricultural scientists to prioritise integrated farming systems and ensure that innovations reach the smallest farms. He noted that 46% of India’s population depends on agriculture, making it essential to strengthen farmer incomes while safeguarding ecological sustainability.
He also urged policymakers and scientists to ensure that research does not remain confined to academic publications but translates into field-level transformation. The Minister added that recommendations emerging from IAC–2025 would be evaluated for integration into national agricultural policymaking.
He further announced a significant administrative reform: to curb unnecessary expenditure, he directed that no ceremonial shawls, bouquets or gifts should be exchanged within departmental events, calling for a culture of simplicity and accountability.
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