A mega-event “Farmers-Scientists Connect Meet” was held under “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” celebrations by Biotech-KISAN Hub programme, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, New Delhi at Biotech-KISAN Hub ICAR-IARI, Pusa, New Delhi in hybrid mode (physical and virtual) on 28 October 2021.
Biotech-KISAN Hub programme is for empowering small and marginal farmers in aspirational districts of the country. Under this, selected farmers are taken on exposure visit to leading science laboratories and help them to grow as scientific leaders at the grass-root level.
Hon’ble Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Science, Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated the event along with other dignitaries such as, Secretary DBT and & DST, DG-CSIR, DG-ICAR and other leading scientists and around 60 beneficiary’s farmers associated with Biotech-KISAN Hub at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi presented at the event.
M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) is implementing the Department of Biotechnology -Krishi Innovation Science Application Network (MSSRF-DBT Biotech KISAN) HUB project, promoting of eco-friendly technologies to enhance soil health and sustainability. The project is supported by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, Ministry of Science and Technology.
The Central hub of the project is located at the Foundation’s headquarter in Chennai, Tamil Nadu whereas its two subsidiary hubs (sub-hub) at the Foundation’s regional centres such as Odisha and Kerala centres – MSSRF-Biju Patnaik Tribal Agro-biodiversity Centre, (MSSRF-BPTAbC) Jeypore, Odisha (sub-hub I) and MSSRF-Community Agro-biodiversity Centre, (MSSRF-CAbC) Wayanad Kerala (sub-hub-II), respectively.
The Sub-hub I is working in partnership with the Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation (ICAR-IISWC), Sunabeda, Koraput district while the sub-hub II work with partner – Indian Institute of Spice Research (ICAR-IISR), Kozhikode, Kerala
The Odisha hub linked to a total of 2571 small and marginal farmers (both men and women) gathered in 12 venues from the 3 aspirational district who participated in this event through online.
The Kerala Hub II M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Community Agrobiodiversity Centre, Wayanad linked 72 spices cultivating farmers to this event through online.