Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

1. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) By Ms. Preeti Patel School Of Library And information Science DAVV, Indore Email: preetipatel2407@yahoo.co.in

2. ICAR • The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. Formerly known as Imperial Council of Agricultural Research, it was established on 16 July, 1929 as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 in pursuance of the report of the Royal Commission on Agriculture. The ICAR has its headquarters at New Delhi.

3. The Council is the apex body for coordinating, guiding and managing research and education in agriculture including horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences in the entire country. With 97 ICAR institutes and 45 agricultural universities spread across the country this is one of the largest national agricultural systems in the world.

4. The ICAR has played a pioneering role in ushering Green Revolution and subsequent developments in agriculture in India through its research and technology development that has enabled the country to increase the 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 impact on the national food and nutritional security.

5. It has played a major role in promoting excellence in higher education in agriculture. It is engaged in cutting edge areas of science and technology development and its scientists are internationally acknowledged in their fields.

6. DEVELOPMENT • Initiation of the first All-India Co-ordinated Research Project on Maize in 1957 • Status of Deemed University accorded to IARI in 1958 • Establishment of the first State Agricultural University on land grant pattern at Pantnagar in 1960 • Placement of different agricultural research institutes under the purview of ICAR in 1966 • Creation of Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) in the Ministry of Agriculture in 1973

7. Opening of first Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) at Puducherry (Pondicherry) in 1974 • Establishment of Agricultural Research Service and Agricultural Scientists' Recruitment Board in 1975 • Launching of Lab-to-Land Programme and the National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) in 1979 • Initiation of Institution-Village Linkage Programme (IVLP) in 1995 • Establishment of National Gene Bank at New Delhi in 1996

8. The ICAR was bestowed with the King Baudouin Award in 1989 for its valuable contribution in ushering in the Green Revolution. Again awarded King Baudouin Award in 2004 for research and development efforts made under partnership in Rice Wheat Consortium. • Launching of National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) in 1998 and National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP) in 2005

9. OBJECTIVES • To plan, undertake, aid, promote and coordinate education, research and its application in agriculture, agroforestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, home science and allied sciences. • To act as a clearing house of research and general information relating to agriculture, animal husbandry, home science and allied sciences, and fisheries through its publications and information system; and instituting and promoting transfer of technology programmes.

10. To provide, undertake and promote consultancy services in the fields of education, research, training and dissemination of information in agriculture, agroforestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, home science and allied sciences. • To look into the problems relating to broader areas of rural development concerning agriculture, including postharvest technology by developing co-operative programmes with other organizations • To do other things considered necessary to attain the objectives of the Society.

11. ORGANIZATION • Union Minister of Agriculture is the ex-officio President of the ICAR Society. • Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research & Education Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India & Director-General, ICAR – the Principal Executive Officer of the Council. • Governing Body is the policy-making authority • Agricultural Scientists' Recruitment Board • Deputy Directors-General (8)

12. Additional Secretary (DARE) and Secretary (ICAR) • Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor • Assistant Directors-General (24) • National Director, National Agricultural Innovation Project • Directorate of Information and Publications of Agriculture

13. RELATED INSTITUTE • Deemed Universities – 4 • Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi • National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal • Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar • Central Institute on Fisheries Education, Mumbai

14. Institutions – 45 • National Research Centres – 17 • National Bureaus – 6 • Directorates/Project Directorates – 25 • All India Coordinated Research Projects - 61 • Network Projects – 17 • Other Projects - 10 • Zonal Project Directorate- 8

15. Directorate of Information and Publications of Agriculture The Directorate of Information and Publications of Agriculture (DIPA) is responsible for dissemination of the agricultural research information generated in the National Agricultural Research System to farmers, students, research scholars, scientists, extension workers etc. through different information products and publications in print and electronic mode.

16. The Directorate is headed by Project Director (DIPA). • The DIPA is the window of the ICAR through which the research and other activities are revealed to the world. • It brings out a variety of publications in English, Hindi and regional languages for the use of scientists, researchers, students, policy planners, extension personnel, farmers and the general public.

17. Research journals, popular magazines, scientific monographs, technical and popular books, handbooks, low-priced books, bulletins, reports, proceedings of conferences and a variety of miscellaneous title are brought out by it regularly, along with certain special publications from time to time.

18. To impart training in the area of Publication Production management processes (i.e. editing, production, art, Sales & Marketing) and Management of Information through modern communication techniques. • Development of Sales and marketing strategies for strengthening of resources.

19. To produce information in the form of floppies, magnetic discs, tape, Compact discs and other form of electronic publishing. • To produce audio-visual material for dissemination and popularization of scientific knowledge about agriculture in the form of photographs, slides, audio-cassettes, video-cassettes and films.

20. To organize refresher course, training and research in communication technologies to update and improve agricultural information system of the ICAR. • To collect, process, store, retrieve and disseminate information on agriculture and allied sciences through Agricultural Research Information Centre (ARIC) using latest computer and digital technologies

21. PUBLICATIONS • Handbook of Horticulture and Handbook of Fisheries published. Fifth edition of Hand Book of Agriculture and third revised edition of Hand Book of Animal Husbandry were brought out. • The series on Agricultural Popular Books namely, Agri-Pop Series has been launched.

22. The Indian Horticulture and Phal Phool have been made bi-monthly from quarterly on demand of readers. • Logos and designs for national and international events has been developed. • Scrolling news at ICAR website was launched. • Computerized print control (CPC) and computer-to-plate (C&P) technology is being used to enhance the print quality of publication.

23. National Agricultural Research Database (NARD), was developed and 23 ICAR Institutes and State Agricultural Universities are working as data input centres. Two Abstract Journals viz. • The Indian Agricultural Science Abstracts and The Indian Animal Science Abstracts are being published. • Information on Research Projects of ICAR institutes and All-India Coordinated Research Projects are updated.

24. Bibliographic inputs from Indian Agricultural Periodicals were indexed and submitted to Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, for inclusion in AGRIS database. • Under outreach programme 40 video films were prepared and distributed to KVKs for popularizing appropriate technologies among farmers. • Participated in Exhibitions and Book Fairs of National /International level.

25. Generated revenue of Rs 70 lakhs through sale of publications. • Open Access Publications (available online). • Online Databases on ICAR Web site. • Digital Publications.