ICAR-ATARI, Ludhiana celebrates its Foundation Day
On January 11, ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Ludhiana, celebrated its Foundation Day. PAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal graced the occasion as Chief Guest. He appreciated the efforts of ATARI, Ludhiana for their imperative role in upliftment of the socio-economic status of farmers in zone-1 through the cutting-edge technology application through frontline extension. Further, he underscored the need to make agriculture more lucrative by focusing on strategies to increase farmers' income. He highlighted key approaches such as entrepreneurship development, value addition, and processing of farm produce, along with the promotion of GI products specific to respective regions.
Dr Inderjeet Singh, VC, GADVASU, Ludhiana stressed the need to train the trainers and consolidate KVKs as well as the effective convergence and partnership building with line departments for implementation of State/Centre Government flagship programs in agriculture and allied sector.
The Guest of Honour, Dr. AK Singh, Former DDG (NRM) and Vice-Chancellor, RVSKVV Gwalior provided pertinent guidelines and a way forward for ATARI Ludhiana while highlighting the key role of KVKs and state-of-the-art capacity building of trainers in futuristic areas of operation viz., carbon and green credits, multiple usage of agri-drones, digital extension etc.
Dr. RK Malik (CIMMYT-CSISA) delivered the First Dr. MS Swaminathan Memorial Foundation Day Lecture on ‘Evidence-based Research and Development Feedback Loops: Experiences of Large Data Analytics from the KVK-CSISA Network”. He stressed the need for landscape diagnostic surveys, evidence-based priority settings, farmers’ participatory research, and coherent monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems in Agricultural Research and Extension.
Earlier Dr. Parvender Sheoran, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Ludhiana, welcomed the Guests and presented a brief genesis and overview of the institute's achievements. He stressed the need for KVKs to serve as district agri-tech epicenter for technology dissemination. He mentioned that this institute in close coordination with SAUs, ICAR institutes, and 72 KVKs located in the states of Punjab, Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and UTs of Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh is marching towards excellence while strengthening the frontline extension network and knowledge management through the implementation of various flagship programs including CRM, Natural Farming, ARYA, TDC-NICRA, CFLD-Pulses & Oilseeds, Farmer FIRST, Skill Development, Agri-Drone, SCSP, TSP.
Dr. RR Burman and Dr. Ranjay K Singh, ADGs (AE) ICAR, New Delhi, in their digital messages, appreciated the achievements and admired the exemplary efforts of ATARI Ludhiana in the field of frontline extension in zone-1 of the country. Notably, more than 200 participants including Directors of Extension Education along with Program Coordinators of KVKs, Padma Shree Awardees, and innovative farmers of zone-1 were also present. The dignitaries released ATARI and KVK publications and paid their perusal to the exhibition stalls. Two online portals of the institute were also released. Six Programme Coordinators of KVKs for their exemplary extension services and 16 farmers for their outstanding contributions and exceptional commitment towards the successful advancement of innovative farming practices were also awarded on this occasion.
Dr. Rajesh Kumar Rana, Principal Scientist, ICAR-ATARI, Ludhiana presented the formal vote of thanks.
