Empowering Assam’s ST Farmers: ICAR-RCER Patna Kicks Off 5-Day Training on Integrated Farming Systems

In a significant initiative to promote sustainable and inclusive agricultural development, the ICAR-Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna, in collaboration with KVK-Dima Hasao, Assam, inaugurated a specialized five-day training program under Kaushal Se Kisan Samriddhi program funded by Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) on “Upscaling the Production Technology through Integrated Farming System (IFS)” for 16 ST farmers, including 4 women who undertook long journeys to participate.

The program, designed to enhance productivity and resilience among smallholder farmers, emphasizes the adoption of IFS—a holistic approach that integrates crops, livestock, fisheries, and other complementary activities to optimize resource use, reduce risks, and ensure year-round income and nutrition. The participation of women farmers is particularly impactful, as IFS models empower them to efficiently manage diverse, homestead-based activities, thereby strengthening household food security, creating avenues for economic independence, and elevating their decision-making roles in agriculture.

During the inauguration, Dr. Ashutosh Upadhyaya, Acting Director, ICAR-RCER, Patna stressed the transformative potential of IFS for livelihoods, while Dr. Kamal Sarma, Course Director & HOD, DLFM, outlined the curriculum combining classroom learning and field visits, and Dr. Sanjeev Kumar, Course Director & HOD, DCR, detailed scalable IFS models for 1-acre and 2-acre farms. The programme is being coordinated by a team of scientists comprising Dr. Shivani, Dr. P.C. Chandran, Dr. Biswajit Debnath, Dr. Rohan Kumar Raman, and Dr. Tarkeshwar Kumar, with technical support from Shri Anil Kumar, Shri Amrendra Kumar, Shri Umesh Kumar Mishra, Shri Vijay Babu Ram, and other staff members.

The training aims to equip farmers—especially women—with the knowledge and skills to build climate-resilient and profitable farming systems tailored to the agro-ecology of Assam.