In a moment of immense pride for Goa and the Indian agricultural research community, the ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (CCARI), Goa, has been conferred the Rashtriya Krishi Vigyan Puraskar 2025, the highest national honour in Agricultural Sciences, by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), DARE, Government of India. The Union Minister of Agriculture, Shivraj Singh Chouhan presented the award on the occasion of the 97th ICAR Foundation Day on 16th July 2025 held in New Delhi.
The award recognised ICAR-CCARI’s exceptional contribution in the category of Outstanding Inter-Disciplinary Team Research in Agriculture, Agricultural Education, Extension and Allied Sciences. The award-winning concept of “Building Coastal Climate Resilience through Integrated Farming Systems and Agro-Ecotourism,” was a result of collaborative efforts led by Dr. Parveen Kumar (Director, ICAR-CCARI) and a team of accomplished senior scientists including Dr. Manohara K. K., Dr. R. Solomon Rajkumar, Dr. Gopal Ramdas Mahajan, Dr. Sreekanth G. B., and Dr. Paramesha V.
This pioneering initiative addresses the growing climate vulnerabilities in coastal regions by designing and implementing integrated and science-led solutions that ensure ecological sustainability, farm profitability, and community empowerment. The team adopted a holistic approach by combining Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) and agro-ecotourism to deliver transformative impacts in the coastal agro-ecosystem.
Their impactful research has led to the development of salt-tolerant rice varieties, integrated farming system models, and digital platforms such as the Coastal Agricultural Information System (CAIS). They have also formulated region-specific bio-inputs like Goa Bio 1 and Phospho-Urja, tailored to the unique soil and salinity conditions of coastal areas. These innovations led to an increase in productivity by over 200% and an impressive 184% increase in farmer income. The technologies were scaled across more than 18,000 farmers, showcasing the scalability and adaptability of the models.
A landmark outcome of this work is India’s first ICAR-certified agro-ecotourism model, which blends natural farming with tourism, education, and entrepreneurship. The model is designed to boost rural livelihoods and spread awareness on sustainable agricultural practices among visitors. This effort is further amplified through a structured incubation program that supported 17 agri-startups, fostering a culture of innovation and rural enterprise.
The team’s outreach efforts reached over 10,000 stakeholders, including farmers, policymakers, and NGOs. Their inclusive approach ensured that the research’s benefits reached tribal communities and women farmers, contributing to social equity. Significantly, two of the farmers associated with the program were honoured with the Padma Shri, a testimony to the research’s grassroots impact.
Recently, in recognition of these transformative efforts, the Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant, during the “11 Saal—Sankalp Se Siddhi” celebration marking 11 years of transformative governance, publicly acknowledged the contributions of ICAR-CCARI in front of the Goa Cabinet.
The Chief Minister lauded the institute’s vital role in strengthening the state’s agricultural resilience, innovation, and grassroots outreach. Commenting on the recognition, Dr. Parveen Kumar stated, “This honour belongs to the entire team and the farming communities who partnered with us on this journey. It reinforces our commitment to science-based, farmer-centric solutions for a resilient coastal India.”
This award places ICAR-CCARI among the leading agricultural research institutions in the country and serves as a beacon for future-ready, climate-smart innovations tailored to coastal agro-ecosystems.
