India’s food grain output hits record 357 MT: ICAR Secretary of Department of Agricultural Research and Education and Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Dr M L Jat said that the figures of food grain production have reached the highest-ever level of around 357 million tonnes, which is more than eight percent compared to last year. Addressing the curtain raiser press conference of Sixth International Agronomy Congress (IAC-2025) in New Delhi on Saturday, Dr. Jat said that due to effective agronomy management, stubble burning has been reduced by 95 percent. He congratulated farmers, policymakers, and scientists for their contribution to this achievement. Dr Jat further highlighted that India is showing strong progress in the production of pulses, oilseeds, and millets, and agricultural exports have also increased significantly, strengthening the country’s economic growth. The secretary said that IAC 2025 will bring together experts from across the world to deliberate on systems agronomy and agri-food value chain. Dr Jat said that modern agriculture cannot be seen in isolation and requires a complete agri-food value chain approach from production to consumption. He stressed the need for sustainable farming practices, conservation of water, soil, and biodiversity, and adaptation to climate change. IAC-2025 will commence in New Delhi from the 24th of November. The three-day event will feature plenary sessions, thematic symposia, lead lectures, poster presentations, an exhibition, and a dedicated Young Scientists and Students’ Conference. The theme of IAC-2025 is ‘Re-envisioning Agronomy for Smart Agri-Food Systems and Environmental Stewardship’ which highlights the urgent need to create future-ready agricultural systems that are more productive, climate-resilient, environmentally sustainable and nutrition-secure.