Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launched an Information Communication and Technology (ICT) based platform Kisan Sarathi to support agriculture at the local level with a national perspective. 

Tomar also addressed the Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s (ICAR) 93rd Foundation Day and award ceremony virtually. The minister is the chairman of ICAR. 

Highlights of Kisan Sarathi:

• The app was launched to facilitate farmers to get right information at right time in their desired language.

• Through this platform, officials at various levels can view and monitor daily activities such as farmer registration, live calls, messages, advisories given and pending. 

• Through this platform, farmers can interact and avail personalised advisories on agriculture and allied areas directly from the respective scientists of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs). 

• Kisan Sarathi initiative will be highly valuable not only in addressing the location-specific information needs of the farmers but also in agricultural extension, education and research activities of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Indian Council of Agricultural Research

• The ICAR is an autonomous organisation under the department of agricultural research and education, ministry of agriculture and farmers’ welfare. 

• The ICAR has its headquarters in New Delhi.

• Formerly known as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research, it was established on July 16, 1929, as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, in pursuance of the report of the Royal Commission on Agriculture.

• The council is the apex body for coordinating, guiding and managing research and education in agriculture, including horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences. 

• With 101 ICAR institutes and 71 agricultural universities spread across the country, this is one of the largest national agricultural systems in the world.

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