Agricultural Science Centre, Dantewada, affiliated to Indira Gandhi Agricultural University (IGAU) Raipur has been awarded the Best Zonal Agricultural Science Centre (Zone 7) by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi for the year 2013-14. The award was presented by chief guest Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundaria, the Union Agriculture Minister on May 15 at the annual seminar of Vice Chancellors and Directors of Agriculture Universities and ICAR.
The seminar was held at AP Shinde Hall, National Institute of Agriculture Science Complex, New Delhi. The award carries a certificate and a cash award of Rs4 lakh. Under Zone 7 approximately 100 Agricultural Science Centers of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa are operative. Dr SK Patil, Vice Chancellor Indira Gandhi Agricultural Science University, Raipur, Dr Ratna Nashine, Agriculture Coordinator Agricultural Science Centre, Dantewada were present in the seminar.
Agricultural Science Centre, Dantewada was founded on December 23, 2005 and was inaugurated by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh. The Agricultural Science Centre, Dantewada has given a new identity to Dantewada in the country. Moreover, it may be recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented National ‘Krishi Karman Award’ to Chhattisgarh State for record rice production at Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan in February this year.
State Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal received the award at the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The State has received the award for the third time in four years for record rice production. The award for the year 2013-14 includes a citation and a cash prize of RsTwo crore, officials stated. Modi also presented the ‘Krishi Karman Award’ to two progressive farmers from Chhattisgarh- Prabhat Kumar Chandrakar and Hemkumari Sahu for record rice production. They were given cheques worth RsTwo lakh each. The Prime Minister on the occasion also launched the National Soil Health Card Yojana.