ICAR-IIAB Inaugurates ₹119 Crore Facilities and Hosts Pre-Rabi Kisan Goshti
The ICAR-Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (ICAR-IIAB) in Ranchi organized a Pre-Rabi Kisan Goshti-cum-Agricultural Input Distribution Programme on October 8, 2026, bringing together approximately 1,500 farmers from Ranchi, Khunti, Gumla, and Ramgarh districts. The event was conducted under the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) to facilitate direct interaction between farmers, scientists, and policymakers while promoting scientific and sustainable agricultural practices.
Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated various new facilities worth ₹119 crore through video conferencing, including the Admin-cum-School Building, Birsa Munda Multipurpose Hall, Jaipal Singh Munda Sports Complex, and NEXTGEN Breeding Facility. He also laid the foundation stone for a new Guest House facility at the institute.
In his address, Shri Chouhan emphasized the importance of scientific agriculture, improved seeds, integrated farming, balanced nutrient management, and location-specific agricultural technologies for Jharkhand. He specifically highlighted the need to protect farmers from fake seeds, counterfeit fertilizers, and substandard pesticides while calling for effective implementation of farmer welfare schemes. The Minister appreciated the institute's efforts in taking technologies from "Lab to Land" and urged scientists to undertake a nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan.
Union Minister of State Shri Bhagirath Choudhary emphasized the adoption of modern agricultural technologies, value addition, stronger Farmer Producer Organisations, soil testing, and balanced fertilizer use. He encouraged farmers to experiment with natural farming on part of their cultivated area and stressed similar protections against spurious agricultural inputs.
Dr. M. L. Jat, Secretary of DARE and Director General of ICAR, highlighted eastern India's potential for agricultural transformation and emphasized strengthening research institutions in Jharkhand. He called for wider adoption of Rice-Fallow Intensification, location-specific crop selection, improved livestock productivity, and research addressing acidic soils and phosphorus deficiency.
The program included visits to various institute facilities including the Dairy Farm (showcasing Embryo Transfer technology for genetic livestock improvement), Crop Research and Training Centre, and Integrated Farming System Unit. An exhibition showcased crop varieties, livestock technologies, research achievements, and agricultural schemes from ICAR institutes and Jharkhand government agencies.
Technical sessions covered Farmer Producer Organisations, ethno-veterinary medicines, dairy farming, fruit crop production technologies, Integrated Pest Management in Rabi crops, crop diversification, organic farming, livestock feeding management, and lac cultivation. The institute distributed various agricultural inputs including Nano Urea, Nano DAP, mineral mixture, improved seed varieties of wheat, pea, mustard, vegetables, high-yielding tomato and brinjal varieties, and a milk can cooler to participating farmers.
Former institute leaders including Dr. R. Ramani, Dr. K. K. Sharma, Dr. Tilak Raj Sharma, and Dr. Arunnava Patanayak were honored for their contributions to ICAR-IIAB. The event concluded with a commitment to strengthen farmer-scientist-policy linkages and translate agricultural research into practical technologies for Jharkhand farmers.