In a proud moment for Goa, the team from the ICAR–Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (CCARI) Goa, has been awarded the Rashtriya Krishi Vigyan Puraskar 2025, the highest national honour in agricultural sciences, conferred by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Government of India.
The award was presented by Union Agriculture Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, during the 97th ICAR Foundation Day held in New Delhi. It recognises the institute’s impactful work titled ‘Building Coastal Climate Resilience through Integrated Farming Systems and Agro Ecotourism’.
Led by Dr. Parveen Kumar and his team of scientists, the initiative has helped coastal farmers adapt to climate change through the development of salt tolerant crops, integrated farming models, and India’s first ICAR certified agro-ecotourism initiative. These efforts have significantly improved productivity, enhanced rural livelihoods, and opened up new opportunities in Goa’s farming sector.
The contribution of CCARI has also been recognised at the state level. During the recent ’11 Saal, Sankalp Se Siddhi’ celebration, marking 11 years of transformative governance, the Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant, publicly acknowledged the institute’s achievements. He appreciated their role in transforming Goa’s agricultural landscape through research driven solutions, grassroots outreach, and climate resilient practices that are directly benefiting farming communities.
This achievement reflects Goa’s growing leadership in sustainable and climate smart agriculture and stands as a proud example of how science, when rooted in local needs, can bring meaningful change to the lives of people.