Report of the Task Group on Revamping and Refocusing of National Agricultural Research

Abstract

On the midnight of August 14-15, 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru referred to a new dawn in our history and our entering into a tryst with destiny. Being aware that widespread poverty in the country has its roots in agricultural stagnation, Nehru remarked, “everything else can wait, but not agriculture”. This led to several policy and programme initiatives such as enlarging the area under assured irrigation, producing the inputs needed by farmers such as seeds, fertilizer, pesticides, and farm implements, and above all, strengthening our infrastructure in the field of agricultural research and education.