"Traditionally farmers have been innovating and discussions on those innovations at a Congress like this has many advantages," he said at the first-ever Farmers' Science Congress.
ICAR Deputy Director General Ashok Kumar Singh has played an instrumental role in creating the Farmers' Science Congress platform.
Outlining fourfold benefits for farmers from such a platform, Mohapatra said different innovators can deliberate to learn from each other, discussions can lead to large scale validation of innovations, scientist-farmer interactions can propel innovations to the next level and the wider world will get awareness of the developments.
"As many students, including school children, are attending the Farmers' Science Congress, interest in agriculture can be created right from the school level through interactions," he said.
Mohapatra also said farmers' interaction with fellow farmers at the Congress is a great way to transfer knowledge, and highlighted that the farmers are conserving the biodiversity and local germ plasma.
"If we can give some support to their innovations by way of financial support, innovation validation and market linkage, farmers will be encouraged to continue that," he said.
Mohapatra said many farmer innovations get validated at ICAR institutes across the country, including the 760 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK).
"KVKs have been supporting farmers' innovations and documenting them. Once we provide the support, newer avenues can be opened," he said.
The 107th edition of the Indian Science Congress scheduled from January 3-7 is currently underway at the University of Agricultural Sciences here.
( With inputs from IANS )