ICAR-CIARI celebrated "Agriculture Education Day" on December 3, 2025, in honor of Dr. Rajendra Prasad's birth anniversary, who was the first President of India and the Union Minister of Agriculture. To mark this occasion, ICAR-CIARI organized a series of events for school students from November 27 to December 3, 2025. On November 27, 2025, a drawing and painting competition themed "Agricultural Farms in 2047" was held for students in grades 5 to 8. The following day, November 28, 2025, a quiz competition was conducted under the theme "Agriculture Basic & General Knowledge" and on December 1, 2025, an elocution competition took place with the theme "Role of Agriculture in Making India a Developed Nation" for students in grades 9 to 12. A total of 120 students participated, representing 12 schools including Ummat Public School, Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya, Kamaraj English Medium School, PM Shri Kendra Vidyalaya – No. 1 & No. 2, Nirmala Senior Secondary School, Government Sr. Secondary School, Haddo PM Shri Govt. Sr. Secondary School, Garacharma, Carmal Sr. Secondary School, Khalsa Public School, Navy Children School, Saraswati Shishu Mandir Senior Secondary School, and St. Mary's School, Bathu Basti.
On December 2, 2025, students from various schools visited the Garacharma campus to participate in the Technology Exposition and Demonstrations. They explored several facilities, including the Fisheries Museum, Integrated Farming System, Nakshatra Garden, Livestock Farm, Pig Shed, Butterfly Museum, Microplots, Medicinal Garden, Horticulture Plant Propagation Unit, Central Instrumentation Facility, Butterfly Museum, and Library, where they interacted with scientists.
The valedictory function of Agricultural Education Day was honored by the presence of the Chief Guest, Dr. Dilip Kumar Jha, Scientist-F and Officer-in-Charge at the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Sri Vijaya Puram. He conveyed his heartfelt appreciation to the Director for the opportunity to engage in the programme and connect with the youth. Dr. Jha further remarked that prior to the formation of ICAR-CIARI, there was a lack of systematic advancement in agriculture, fisheries and animal science in the islands; however, due to the dedication of the scientists at ICAR-CIARI, several innovative technologies have since been developed for island agriculture. In his address to the students, he encouraged them to select their career paths based on their personal interests rather than external influences. He stressed that agriculture presents extensive professional prospects, noting that even numerous IT professionals are transitioning from their careers to launch successful agri-startups. He expressed his gratitude for the interactions between students and scientists, noting that these programs play a significant role in disseminating agricultural knowledge and innovations to the local community. He concluded his remarks by congratulating all the students who received prizes and participated in the competitions.
Dr. Jai Sunder, the Director of ICAR-CIARI, addressed the students and urged them to explore the extensive opportunities present in the agricultural sector, which encompasses many disciplines under ICAR. He inspired the students to contemplate fulfilling careers in agriculture and encouraged teachers to consistently bring their students to CIARI, describing the experience as both enriching and enjoyable. He noted that today’s students represent the future scientists who will strive to achieve agricultural self-sufficiency in the nation. By emphasizing that agriculture has transcended traditional practices, he pointed out that it has now transformed into a vibrant field of business and entrepreneurship. Furthermore, he mentioned that while the country has experienced numerous revolutions in the past, contemporary technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Robotics, Drones, and Sensors are now playing a pivotal role in agricultural advancement. By embracing these cutting-edge tools, agriculture can be revolutionized to boost productivity, enhance livelihoods, and attain self-reliance. He congratulated all the students who received awards and participated in the competitions.
Earlier, Shri D. Karunakaran, the Scientist and Nodal Officer of the Programme, extended a warm welcome to the school students and their teachers, offering a brief summary of the events. Dr. Sharath S. Yeligar then presented the vote of thanks. Smt. Asma Bibi, Senior Technical Assistant, coordinated the program in partnership with Shri K. Ali Akbar, Technician, Shri Vijayan, Young Professional-1 from AKMU, Smt. Nazneen Khan, Young Professional-II, and Shri Adithya Nair.