Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Shri Ram Nath Thakur, visited the ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (ICAR-CIFE) Kolkata Centre on November 10, 2026. During his visit, the Minister called for stronger collaboration between the Central and State Governments to accelerate agricultural development, promote sustainable farming practices, and improve farmers' welfare.
The Minister emphasized the need for coordinated efforts among the Central Government, State Governments, agricultural research institutions, and other stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of agricultural development programmes. He highlighted the importance of collaborative research, technology dissemination, capacity building, and institutional coordination in improving agricultural productivity and farmers' livelihoods.
Specifically, Minister Thakur underscored the significance of natural farming and sustainable agricultural practices for maintaining soil health, conserving natural resources, reducing dependence on chemical inputs, and ensuring long-term environmental sustainability. He encouraged agricultural scientists and institutions to develop and promote farmer-friendly, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable technologies.
Shri Dudh Kumar Mondal, Minister of Agriculture for the Government of West Bengal, attended the programme as the Guest of Honour. Dr. T. K. Ghoshal, Principal Scientist and Head of ICAR-CIFE Kolkata Centre, welcomed the dignitaries and highlighted the importance of institutional collaboration in advancing agricultural and allied-sector development.
The programme featured the release of publications and felicitation of the Chief Guest and Guest of Honour. A review meeting was organized with representatives of the Department of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal, and multiple ICAR institutions including ICAR-CIFE, ICAR-NINFET, ICAR-ATARI, and ICAR-NBSS&LUP to review institutional activities and discuss opportunities for strengthening coordination.