Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today said that all recent free trade agreements, whether with the European Union or the United States, have fully protected India’s national interests, with farmers’ welfare placed at the highest priority. He said this while addressing the 64th Convocation of ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi. He highlighted that today India has surpassed China to become the world’s number one producer of rice, with Indian wheat varieties shining across the globe. Mr Chouhan underlined that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a powerful, proud, prosperous, self-reliant, and developed India is being built. He urged students to be ready to contribute to the mission of building a developed India.

Urging graduates to remain patient and hopeful, he advised them not to succumb to despair or jealousy and to maintain enthusiasm for life and work. A total of 470 students who completed their postgraduate and doctoral programmes were conferred degrees today. According to the institute, 290 students received MSc/MTech degrees, while 180 scholars were awarded PhD degrees upon successful completion of their respective programmes. IARI, functioning under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, is a 121-year-old agricultural research institution that plays a key role in ensuring India’s food, nutritional, and livelihood security. The ceremony marked the culmination of the institute’s Convocation Week, which began on the 8th of February.