Zila Parishad Members and Farmers Join Hands with Scientists to Promote Sustainable Soil Health and Livelihoods at ICAR-RCER, Patna

9 June 2026, Patna

ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region organized a Conference-cum-Workshop on “Zila Parishad Members and Progressive Farmers’ Meet” under the Khet Bachao Abhiyan campaign to create awareness among public representatives and farmers on sustainable soil health management and eco-friendly agricultural practices.

The programme was attended by Mrs. Kumari Stuti, Chairperson, Zila Parishad, Patna, and Mrs. Saroj Devi, Chairperson, Zila Parishad, Buxar, along with Zila Parishad members from Patna and Buxar districts, progressive farmers, scientists, and institute staff.

Addressing the gathering, Mrs. Kumari Stuti highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts among scientific institutions, local governance bodies, and farming communities for ensuring agricultural sustainability and rural prosperity. She appreciated the institute’s efforts in developing location-specific technologies and emphasized the need to strengthen linkages between research organizations and village communities.

Mrs. Saroj Devi stressed the importance of promoting natural farming and resource-conserving technologies at the grassroots level. She emphasized that public representatives and farmers must work together to improve soil health, reduce cultivation costs, and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for rural households. She also called for wider dissemination of successful agricultural innovations among farmers.

Dr Anup Das, Director, ICAR-RCER, emphasized the need to shift from input-intensive agriculture to knowledge-based and resource-efficient farming systems. He stated that natural farming, balanced nutrient management, water conservation, and climate-resilient technologies would play a vital role in sustainable agricultural growth in the coming decades. He reiterated the institute’s commitment to providing scientific solutions for improving farmers’ livelihoods while conserving soil, water, and environmental resources.

During the interaction, Zila Parishad members expressed their willingness to collaborate with ICAR-RCER in adopting villages for technology demonstrations, natural farming promotion, nutrition garden development, water conservation initiatives, capacity building, and sustainable livelihood enhancement. The participants emphasized that coordinated village-level interventions could significantly improve agricultural productivity, environmental conservation, and farmers’ income. The programme also highlighted the importance of conserving agricultural land, restoring soil health, and promoting sustainable farming practices to address emerging agricultural challenges.

A technical presentation on the principles and practices of natural farming was delivered for the benefit of participating farmers. The event featured exhibitions on sustainable soil health management, stress-tolerant crop varieties, Direct Seeded Rice (DSR), and efficient water management technologies. To help mitigate drought-related challenges, farmers were provided with seeds of the drought-tolerant rice variety Swarna Shreya, along with vegetable seeds and planting materials. A farmer’s guide on natural farming was also released during the programme.

Participants visited the institute’s technology exhibition and research farms, where they were exposed to farmer-centric innovations including natural farming models, fruit-based nutri-gardens, Integrated Farming System (IFS) models, and women-centric homestead technologies. The public representatives appreciated the institute’s efforts in developing resource-efficient and livelihood-oriented technologies and expressed their interest in promoting such nature-friendly approaches in their respective districts in collaboration with ICAR-RCER.

More than 75 participants, including 13 Zila Parishad members, Chairpersons, and farmers, participated in the programme and expressed keen interest in adopting the sustainable agricultural technologies promoted by the institute.

(Source: ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna)