Dr Himanshu Pathak, the honourable Director General of ICAR and Secretary of DARE, visited ICAR IISWC Research Centre in Vasad, Gujarat on the afternoon of January 22, 2024. He was accompanied by Dr. M. Das, Director, ICAR-DMAPR, Anand, Gujarat and Dr. Jagdish Rane, Director, ICAR-CIAH, Bikaner, Rajasthan. Dr. M.J. Kaledhonkar, Head, ICAR IISWC RC, Vasad welcomed distinguished DG with a bouquet of flowers. He also welcomed Director, ICAR-DMAPR and Director, ICAR-CIAH. The visit commenced with a detailed discussion on research mandate of centre, ongoing research activities and proven technologies by centre on famers’ fields.

Dr. H. Pathak (DG) also talked with individual staff member to know constraints in functioning of research centres to develop insights for future planning. He assured that scientific and technical positions at research centres under different institutes in ICAR system would be filled on priority. He also desired that Annual Budget Estimates (BE) and Revised Estimates (RE) would be finalized for research centres akin to ICAR institutes for efficient financial management at research centres. Further, he proposed better utilization of corpus funds to address pending issues at research centres. He especially encouraged scientists to submit externally funded projects to test innovative ideas. Additionally, he engaged with B. Tech students undergoing four-month training at the centre and advised to work hard to strengthen National Agricultural Research System of the country in future. Finally, he concluded that there are a lot changes in food habits and life styles within the country and the ICAR has to work hard to develop technologies for new era to address food, fibre and nutritional security of the country under climate change scenario. He emphasized that contribution of NARS is very much important during Amrit Kaal for Viksit Bharat by 2047.