**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer provided by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1589 on December 9, 2025. The question pertains to funds allocated for agricultural research and innovation, specifically focusing on climate-vulnerable regions like Odisha. The answer outlines enhanced funding, review processes, coordination efforts, and initiatives to promote technology adoption in agriculture.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Funding Enhancement:**
* The government has increased funds to the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE)/Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) by Rs. 124.48 crore for 2025-26 compared to the previous year.
* **Technology Development & Climate Resilience:**
* The National Agricultural Research and Education System (NARES) has developed technologies for climate-resilient agriculture, including specific crop varieties and District Contingency Plans (DACPs) for all Odisha districts.
* **Scheme Review and Improvement:**
* The Department periodically reviews ongoing plan schemes through third-party agencies, modifying/revising programs based on recommendations to provide technological solutions to farmers.
* **Coordination and Dissemination:**
* ICAR serves as the Nodal Agency for NARES, working with Research Institutes, Agricultural Universities & Colleges, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) to develop, test, refine, demonstrate, and transfer technologies.
* Monitoring and review occur at National, Zonal, University & district levels via ICAR, ATARIs, Agricultural Universities, and Scientific Advisory Committees.
* Eight ICAR-State Coordination Regional Committees are established to coordinate research and extension activities, including in Odisha.
* **Technology Adoption and Collaboration:**
* DARE-ICAR collaborates with government and private organizations to facilitate the adoption of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, genome editing, and precision agriculture.
* The Network Programme on Precision Agriculture (NePPA), All India Coordinated Research Programmes (AICRP), National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA), and KVKs coordinate technology development and dissemination.
* Agribusiness Incubation Centres (ABICs) have been established across ICAR institutes to support techno-entrepreneurs and agri-startups.
* The 'Namo Drone Didi' Scheme promotes technology-driven farming for improved efficiency, enhanced crop yield, reduced costs, and empowerment of Self Help Groups (SHGs).
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE)/Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)**
* **Impact:** Increased funding to support agricultural research and innovation initiatives.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the enhanced funding effectively to further develop climate-resilient agricultural technologies, coordinate research and extension activities, and promote technology adoption among farmers and agri-startups.
**Stakeholder: Farmers (especially in climate-vulnerable regions like Odisha)**
* **Impact:** Access to improved technologies, climate-resilient crop varieties, and technological solutions through various schemes and programs.
* **Action Required:** Engage with ICAR, KVKs, and other relevant institutions to learn about and adopt new technologies and practices to improve agricultural productivity and resilience to climate change.
**Stakeholder: Agri-startups and Innovators**
* **Impact:** Opportunities for collaboration with DARE-ICAR and access to Agribusiness Incubation Centres (ABICs) for nurturing and scaling up their ventures.
* **Action Required:** Explore collaborative opportunities with DARE-ICAR, participate in relevant programs and initiatives, and leverage the resources of ABICs to develop and commercialize innovative agricultural technologies.
**Stakeholder: State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)**
* **Impact:** Strengthened coordination with ICAR institutions to improve field-level dissemination and implementation of agricultural innovations.
* **Action Required:** Collaborate with ICAR institutions to implement and disseminate agricultural innovations at the field level, focusing on the specific needs and challenges of local farmers and communities.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The ministry responsible for agricultural research and innovation, answering the parliamentary question.
Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE): The department within the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare receiving enhanced funding for agricultural research.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): A key organization under DARE, responsible for agricultural research and dissemination of technology.
Odisha: A state specifically mentioned for its climate-vulnerable regions and the implementation of innovation.
Namo Drone Didi Scheme: Government scheme promotes technology driven farming with improved efficiency, enhanced crop yield & reduced cost of operation & to empower Self Help Groups.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1589
TO BE ANSWERED ON 9TH DECEMBER, 2025
FUNDS FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
1589. SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN:
SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI:
DR. VINOD KUMAR BIND:
SHRI SUKANTA KUMAR PANIGRAHI:
SHRI ALOK SHARMA:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृषि और ककसान कल्याण
मंत्री be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has earmarked enhanced funds for agricultural research,
innovation and technology-driven farming in the current financial year across the country along
with the priority themes identified especially for climate-vulnerable regions like Odisha and tribal
districts such as Kandhamal;
(b) whether any systematic review has been undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of
existing schemes in transferring research outputs and technological solutions to farmers,
including those in remote areas of Odisha;
(c) if so, the key findings and major gaps highlighted by committees or expert groups;
(d) the measures adopted to strengthen coordination among ICAR institutions, State
Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and KVKs to improve field-level dissemination an
implementation of innovation in the country including Odisha and particularly serving
Kandhamal; and
(e) whether new institutional or digital frameworks have been introduced to collaborate with
agri-startups and innovators to facilitate the widespread adoption of emerging technologies such
as Artificial Intelligence, genome editing and precision agriculture and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृषि और ककसान कल्याण राज्य मंत्री (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)
(a): Yes, the government has enhanced Rs. 124.48 crore during 2025-26 over previous year
to the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE)/ Indian Council of Agricultural
1Research (ICAR). The National Agricultural Research and Education System (NARES) has
developed appropriate technologies for climate resilient agriculture including specific crop
varieties for climatic vulnerabilities such as flood, drought and salt affected regions. Department
has also developed District Contingency Plans (DACPs) for all the districts of Odisha.
(b) & (c): The periodic and systematic review of all ongoing plan schemes of the department
are undertaken by the third-party agencies for performance outcomes as per Guidelines of the
Government of India. The scheme programs/activities are modified/ revised based on the
recommendations of the review reports to provide technological solutions to the farmers.
(d): The ICAR is the Nodal Agency for the NARES for the development and dissemination of
scientific agricultural technology to the farmers. The ICAR- Research Institutes, Agricultural
Universities & Colleges and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) are working together for
development, testing & refinement, demonstration and transfer of technologies to the farmers.
The monitoring and review are done regularly at National, Zonal, and University & district levels
by ICAR, Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs), Agricultural
Universities and Scientific Advisory Committees of each KVK. There are 08 ICAR- Sate
Coordination Regional committees for coordinating research and extension activities in the
country including Odisha state.
(e): Yes, DARE-ICAR has been collaborating with different government and private
organizations to facilitate the widespread adoption of emerging technologies such as Artificial
Intelligence, genome editing and precision agriculture.
The Network Programme on Precision Agriculture (NePPA), All India Coordinated
Research Programmes (AICRP), National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA)
and KVKs are co-ordinating for technology development and dissemination for agricultural and
allied sectors.
The Department has established Agribusiness Incubation Centres (ABICs) across
various ICAR institutes, to nurture techno-entrepreneurs and agri-startups.
‘Namo Drone Didi’ Scheme of the government promotes technology driven farming with
improved efficiency, enhanced crop yield & reduced cost of operation and to empower Self Help
Groups (SHGs).
*******
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