ICAR–CIRB, Hisar Organises Institute–Industry Meet on Buffalo Technology Transfer

24 March 2026, Hisar

ICAR–Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar, organized an Institute–Industry Meet on the theme “Buffalo Technology Transfer, Commercialization and Collaboration” today under the aegis of its Institute Technology Management Unit (ITMU).

The meet witnessed enthusiastic participation from leading industries, including Hester Biosciences Limited; Tara International, Vadodara; JDN Technology; Cargill Animal Nutrition and Health; Jagmohan Industries, Ludhiana; Farmvic Livestock Technology Pvt. Ltd.; Indian Immunologicals Ltd.; Haryana Vaccine Institute; Titanic Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd.; Hisar Bovine Sperm Station and Research Center; Parashar Industries; NextGen Life Sciences; and Kemin Industries, along with several emerging enterprises in the livestock sector.

Eminent scientists and experts from premier institutes participated in the meet representing both serving and retired experts across disciplines such as animal genetics, nutrition, physiology, microbiology, pharmacology, medicine and livestock production.

Prof. (Dr.) Vinod Kumar Verma, Vice-Chancellor, LUVAS, Hisar graced the occasion as Chief Guest. He emphasized that farmers are the ultimate stakeholders of research and innovation. He highlighted the critical role of industry as a bridge between research institutions and farmers, enabling effective dissemination, commercialization, and adoption of technologies. He stressed the importance of collaborative efforts between academia and industry to ensure that research aligns with practical needs. He also underscored the need for capacity building, skill development, and awareness among farmers to facilitate successful technology adoption. He advocated for participatory research planning involving farmers and industry stakeholders to enhance the relevance and impact of research outcomes.

At the outset, Dr. T.K. Bhattacharya, Director, ICAR–CIRB, highlighted the institute’s significant contributions to buffalo research, extension, and technology dissemination. Referring to buffaloes as the “black gold” of the country, he emphasized their vital role in strengthening rural livelihoods and enhancing farmers’ income. He stressed the need to bridge the gap between laboratory research and field-level application, advocating for a shift from a “top-down” to a “bottom-up” approach, where research priorities are driven by the needs of farmers and industry. He underscored that research must be demand-driven, outcome-oriented, and translated into practical technologies within a reasonable timeframe. Emphasizing the importance of industry collaboration, he noted that partnerships are crucial for scaling innovations and ensuring real-world impact.

During the panel discussion, experts highlighted the role of advanced reproductive technologies such as sex-sorted semen and embryo transfer in accelerating genetic improvement and enhancing reproductive efficiency in buffaloes. They emphasized the need for indigenous diagnostic kits and data-driven vaccine development to address diseases such as FMD, HS, and surra, along with concerns related to antimicrobial resistance.

The importance of season-specific feeding strategies was also discussed. Experts concluded that strong collaboration between research institutions and industry is essential for driving sustainable livestock productivity and profitability. The meet served as an important platform for fostering dialogue, identifying research gaps, and strengthening partnerships between academia and industry to ensure effective technology transfer and improved outcomes for farmers.

A total of 160 participants including Scientists, Industry representatives, progressive farmers, teachers, students, staff participated at this Institute-Industry Meet.

(Source: ICAR–Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar)