ICAR RCER Patna Hosts Online Interaction with Hon’ble Agriculture Minister and farmers Capacity building program for Strategic Rabi Planning 2026

ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region (RCER), Patna, it's Centre in Ranchi and two KVKs (Ramgarh and Buxar) organised an online interaction attended by about 186 participants and officials including 101 farmers, who joined the address by Hon’ble Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Focusing on the upcoming Rabi planning, the honourable Minister congratulated farmers, scientists and stakeholders for the record production of the last season and urged for a proper roadmap for the Rabi season in view of climate challenges and other urgent conditions. He stressed that this should be done through a bottom-up approach with the participation of ICAR, KVKs, the State Government, ATMA teams and farmers in convergence, supported by systematic brainstorming at the district level and then at the State and national levels.

The Minister emphasized the Integrated Farming System approach for small farmers, which should be demonstrated in farmers’ fields. He also highlighted diversification of farming, natural farming, farm mechanisation and other important areas. The roadmap, he said, should consider diverse aspects and take into account the views of farmers. Follow-up of previous missions such as Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA), Khet Bachao Abhiyan (KBA) should be ensured for the betterment of farmers, and the quality of produce should be considered for export at the farmers’ level. A decentralized approach was emphasized for the next Rabi planning, and welfare schemes such as Fasal Bima, VB G RAM G and Kisan Samman Nidhi should reach farmers. KVKs should actively participate in the upcoming event in collaboration with the State Government, ATMA and other stakeholders. Dr. ML Jat, DG, ICAR, and Secretary, DARE, and Shri Atish Chandra, Secretary, DA&FW also outlined guidance for better implementation of the next Rabi planning in a consolidated mode through convergence.

On this occasion a farmers scientists interaction for improved farming was also organised. Dr Anup Das, Director, RCER, Patna underscored that time is one of the most important resources that every farmer must utilise properly for each day of farming, keeping in mind the opportunity cost of time, and that the same applies to Rabi planning. On this occasion, the  scientists from different disciplines interacted with farmers and addressed their queries. Farmers from Karai village (Naubatpur Block) asked about varieties suitable for the present erratic water availability, and scientists discussed varieties suited to different conditions. Crop residue management, climate-resilient agriculture, timely sowing and harvesting, proper crop rotation, IFS models developed by the Institute,

balanced fertilizer use, animal husbandry, especially goat farming and the scope of Nutri-garden were discussed. At the end, farmers visited the demonstration and instruction units of the Institute for practical knowledge, following the principle of ‘seeing is believing’.