Bihar is headed to get a research centre for integrated farming in the future as the Union Minister of Agriculture, Radha Mohan Singh laid foundation stone of National Research Centre on Integrated Farming (ICAR-NRCIF) at Pipra Kothi in East Champaran, Bihar.
Inaugurating the research centre, Radha Mohan Singh said that the new institute will be dedicated to the welfare of the farmers in the region. The mandate of the institute will be to conduct research on the development of location specific integrated farming system models for diverse agro-ecological conditions specially flood and wetland situation with emphasis on rice, sugarcane and banana which require more water. The minister expressed hope that the institute will bear the responsibility of developing integrated models for whole of the region so that the food and nutritional security of people is secured.
On the occasion, progressive farmers and entrepreneurs from the region including seven women farmers, who have excelled in cultivation of mushroom, banana cultivation and rice production were felicitated by the minister. Dr S. Ayyappan, DG, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) welcomed all dignitaries and farmers and apprised about the mandate of the newly established institute.
Meanwhile, ICAR also organised a Kishan Gosthi on integrated farming and one exhibition on agriculture. The programme was attended by more than 3000 farmers from East Champaran and neighbouring districts and a large numbers of entrepreneurs, scientists and social workers.
