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Union Govt to look into ICAR-IIHR becoming deemed University
Thursday, 06 March, 2025, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
Nandita Vijayasimha, Bengaluru
The Union Government will look into granting deemed university status to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research -Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (ICAR-IIHR), Hesaraghatta.
In this regard, Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H D Kumaraswamy, at the National Horticulture Fair 2025, said that he would soon discuss with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on granting deemed university status to the ICAR-IIHR, Hesaraghatta. Kumaraswamy emphasised the need for institutional support in agricultural research. He also stated that he would hold discussions with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on this matter.
“The Central government aims to achieve self-reliance in agriculture, a key goal under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat 2047 and Atmanirbhar Bharat vision. As part of this commitment, the 2025-26 Union Budget has allocated Rs 1,52,000 crore for agriculture,” he said. Highlighting the government’s focus on agricultural research and technological advancements, Kumaraswamy said, “Strengthening research institutions is crucial, and as part of this initiative, we will take steps to grant deemed university status to ICAR-IIHR.”
The Central government has introduced several subsidy schemes that young farmers should take advantage of. There is huge global demand for Indian agricultural products, and instead of migrating to cities, rural youth should explore opportunities in their villages. Even with half an acre of land, farmers can earn lakhs of rupees,” Kumaraswamy said. He said, guarantee schemes, should not come at the cost of neglecting agriculture, which is the lifeline of rural India. Guarantee schemes alone will not improve the lives of farmers. However, empowering agriculture and horticulture with proper support and market access will be far more beneficial than providing a hundred guarantees.” “Currently, the state government spends Rs 52,000 crore annually on guarantee schemes. If just one year’s guarantee fund is invested in agriculture and horticulture, it can transform these sectors, making Karnataka a model for the entire country,” Kumaraswamy asserted.
Stating that the government must think about long-term solutions that will permanently uplift farmers’ livelihoods, he stressed the importance of diversification in farming, stating, “Farmers must explore multiple crops for better income. Officials and experts should provide the right guidance. Young farmers should be brought to such institutions and trained for at least 15 days to understand modern horticulture practices. They should be educated on technological advancements, global farming trends, and high-yield techniques at minimal costs.”
