Glorious 25 Years journey of ICAR-RCER, Patna

The ICAR-Research Complex for Eastern Region (ICAR-RCER), Patna is celebrating its 25 years of glorious service to science and society and scheduled to hold its 26th Foundation Day on 22 February 2026. The programme will be graced by Dr. A. K. Nayak, Honorable Deputy Director General (Natural Resource Management), ICAR, New Delhi, as the Chief Guest. The event will include a Foundation Day lecture by Dr AK Nayak, exhibition of successful agricultural innovations, farmer–scientist interaction, felicitation of progressive farmers, Media personnel and outstanding employees of the institute. As part of the Foundation Day celebrations, Innovative Farmers’ meet is being organized. 

On the eve of the 26th Foundation Day, Dr. Anup das, Director, ICAR-RCER stated that the institute has worked with a single window—to develop and deliver science-based, region-specific solutions that directly benefit farmers aligned with the goal of Viksit Bharat.

The ICAR–Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna, during its 25 years of dedicated service to the farming community has achieved several milestones in development of farmers oriented region-specific technologies with focus on integrated management of natural resources and other allied sectors to enhance productivity, sustainability, and farmers’ income across Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Assam.

The Institute has made significant contributions to natural resource management (NRM) through farmer-centric, climate-resilient innovations across eastern India. The institute has developed Integrated Farming System models for irrigated, rainfed, hill, and plateau ecosystems for small & marginal farmers, resulted in substantial farmers income enhancement.  Its technological interventions for greening rice-fallow areas enhanced system productivity by ~50% and net returns by ~15% through crop intensification, with validated packages of practices shared with State Governments and stakeholders. Sustainable intensification of the rice–wheat system demonstrated on ~10,924 acres under the Climate Resilient Agriculture programme of the Government of Bihar. 

Fruit-based multi-tier systems integrating mango and litchi with filler crops and intercrops generated net incomes of ₹1.5–2.0 lakh/ha/year and were adopted under Birsa Harit Gram Yojana (MGNREGA) in Jharkhand, benefiting ~1.67 lakh families over ~1.45 lakh acres. In addition, ICAR–RCER has contributed to the rehabilitation of coal mine–affected landscapes through the development of agroforestry-based restoration and carbon sequestration models, supporting ecological recovery alongside livelihood generation. Crop diversification of rice with maize, soybean, ragi, bajra, and pigeon pea improved system productivity and water productivity, while resource-conserving vegetable production technologies (drip fertigation+ raised bed + polythene mulch) increased farm income to ₹2.0–3.0 lakh/acre, and improved nutrient use efficiency & water productivity. 

Complementing these efforts, the Solar Irrigation Pump Sizing Tool developed by the institute supports optimal pump selection to curb groundwater over-extraction and has been adopted by MNRE under PM-KUSUM across 20 states. The institute has also developed a solar irrigation pump sizing tool, solar pumping systems, and solar-powered farm implements such as paddy threshers, insect traps, and fish vending carts etc. harnessing green energy in agriculture. Trials on Natural farming demonstrated yield stabilization and improved resilience over time, while ecosystem services assessment in the Middle Indo-Gangetic Plains showed that zero-tilled direct-seeded rice delivered the highest ecosystem service value, underscoring ICAR–RCER’s leadership in advancing sustainable, resource-efficient, and climate-resilient agricultural systems.

The institute has released 12 climate-resilient rice varieties, one chickpea variety, 63 vegetable varieties, 2 faba bean varieties, and 6 fruit varieties, thereby significantly strengthening food and nutritional security in the region. The developed varieties of the institute are found higher acceptance among stakeholders & beyond. For e.g.  the rice variety Swarn Shreya has been adopted over more than 4 lakh hectares, while the parwal (pointed gourd) varieties Swarn Rekha and Swarn Alaukik have gained widespread popularity among farmers, with their demand continuing to grow across eastern India.

The institute has also contributed to livestock genetic resource conservation through registration of Purnea cattle, Medini cattle, Palamu goat, Mala poultry, Maithili duck, and Kodo duck. The region-specific mineral mixture “Swarna Min”, developed for Bihar and Jharkhand, improved animal health and increased milk productivity.

Through flagship programmes like Participatory Research Application for Year-Round Income and Agricultural Sustainability (PRAYAS) and “Kaushal se Kisan Samriddhi,” the institute has trained over 18,000 SC/ST farmers across 18 districts in seven eastern states, significantly strengthening farmers’ skills. The FPO-based technology dissemination model developed by the institute has further facilitated collective adoption of technologies and improved market linkages. Through the NEH Component, ICAR–RCER has strengthened farmer–scientist linkages and facilitated need-based technology transfer suited to fragile hill ecosystems. The institute has played a lead role in “Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyaan,”. The institute has provided direct benefits to over 5.5 lakh farmers through innovative technologies and capacity buildings. The impact assessment of 35 institute-developed crop varieties and 19 models, using partial budgeting and the Economic Surplus Method, has estimated an economic impact of ₹15,480 crore.

The institute has initiated pioneering work in cutting-edge domains, including carbon credit frameworks, ecosystem services assessment, and climate-resilient natural resource management. It is also advancing AI-based indigenous duck characterization, application of digital and machine learning tools in agriculture, and sensor-based smart water farming models, reflecting its commitment to next-generation, data-driven, and sustainability-oriented agricultural innovation.

On the occasion of its 26th Foundation Day, the ICAR–Research Complex for Eastern Region reaffirms its unwavering commitment to strengthening its leadership by driving innovation, shaping strategic pathways, guiding evidence-based policy, and aligning research priorities with national missions, including Viksit Bharat, to ensure inclusive, resilient, and future-ready agricultural growth.