Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela 2025 to Begin, Union Agriculture Minister to Inaugurate the Event

The Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela (PKVM) 2025 is set to take place in New Delhi from February 22 to 24, 2025. Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, will be the Chief Guest at the inaugural ceremony. The theme for this year’s event is "Advanced Agriculture – Developed India." The valedictory session on February 24 will be attended by Ministers of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur and Shri Bhagirath Choudhary. Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary DARE and Director General of ICAR, will preside over the key sessions.

Key Highlights of the Event:

1. Live demonstrations of newly developed crop varieties and agricultural technologies
2. Exhibitions featuring innovative products, technologies, and services by ICAR, agricultural universities, startups, private companies, and farmer producer organizations (FPOs)
3. Technical sessions on climate-resilient agriculture, crop diversification, digital farming, entrepreneurship, and agri-marketing
4. Sale of Pusa Seeds for improved crop varieties
5. On-the-spot agricultural advisories for farmers

New Research and Achievements:

The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) has focused on developing climate-resilient and nutrient-rich crop varieties to enhance both productivity and nutritional value. In 2024, a total of 27 crop varieties were released, including wheat, rice, maize, chickpea, pigeon pea, pearl millet, mustard, and soybean. These include high-nutrient wheat varieties enriched with iron and zinc, as well as maize hybrids rich in Vitamin A, lysine, and tryptophan.

Horticulture and Crop Diversification: IARI has introduced 268 improved vegetable varieties across 48 crops, including carrot, okra, beans, broccoli, and spinach, which are fortified with essential nutrients. New fruit and flower varieties have also been developed to promote profitable horticulture farming.

Innovative Agricultural Technologies:

1. Pusa Decomposer: A sustainable solution for managing crop residue and preventing stubble burning
2. Soil Testing Meter: A low-cost device for analyzing essential soil nutrients
3. Speedy Seed Viability Kit: A rapid test for assessing seed quality within hours
4. Solar-Powered Cold Storage (Sun Fridge): An off-grid cooling system for preserving perishable produce
5. PUSA MeFly and CueFly Kits: Ready-to-use solutions to tackle fruit fly infestations in fruits and vegetables

The Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela 2025 aims to empower farmers with the latest agricultural innovations and help enhance productivity and income through advanced farming practices.