New Delhi/Almora | Correspondent
On the occasion of the 97th Foundation Day of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), a landmark agreement was signed on July 16, 2025, between ICAR–Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora and Fusion Crop Science Pvt. Ltd., Pune, Maharashtra for the production and marketing of the VL Vita maize hybrid variety.
The agreement was formalized in a grand ceremony held at the Bharat Ratna C. Subramaniam Auditorium, NASC Complex, Pusa, New Delhi. The event was graced by Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Chaudhary, Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary DARE & ICAR Director General Dr. M.L. Jat, Agrinnovate India Ltd. CEO Dr. Praveen Malik, Director of ICAR-VPKAS Dr. Lakshmi Kant, and Director of Fusion Crop Science Mr. Santosh Parsaram Bhojne.
VL Vita is an early-maturing (95–100 days) hybrid maize variety developed by combining two parental lines: VBL 101 and VBL 102. This variety is biofortified with Provitamin A, containing 7.48 micrograms per gram, nearly three times higher than conventional maize. It has been notified for cultivation in the northern hill regions of India including Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Assam, and the northeastern states.
During the event, representatives from both the institute and the company exchanged the signed agreement documents. On the occasion, Mr. Bhojne remarked, “This agreement marks a milestone in enhancing farmers’ income and improving nutritional security.”
The agreement was met with appreciation and congratulations from the Union Agriculture Minister and other dignitaries, who also extended their best wishes to Mr. Bhojne. This collaboration is seen as a significant step in commercializing research innovations developed by the institute and delivering science-backed solutions to farming communities.
