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Hon’ble Agriculture Minister Visits Long-Term Trials jointly conducted by RPCAU-CIMMYT-BISA at Pusa, Samastipur.

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CIMMYT-BISA

Hon’ble Agriculture Minister, Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Vijay Kumar Sinha and DG ICAR Shri ML Jat with the farmers.

In a significant step toward promoting sustainable agriculture practices, Hon’ble Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, along with Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Kumar Sinha and DG, ICAR Dr. M.L. Jat, visited the long-term trials jointly conducted by RPCAU and CIMMYT-BISA at Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar.

The visit focused on reviewing the long-term conservation agriculture trials. These trials, especially in rice–wheat and rice–maize cropping systems, have been underway for over 20 years and offer compelling evidence of the benefits of conservation agriculture and sustainable farming practices.

Key Highlights of the Visit

Dr. M.L. Jat, DG, ICAR, Dr. Raj Kumar Jat, and Dr. Mahesh Gathala explained to the Minister the results and scientific progress. The Minister was shown how two decades of conservation agriculture has transformed soil health:

  • Soils have become softer and more fertile.
  • Earthworm populations are thriving, indicating strong biological activity.
  • Carbon levels in soil have increased, enhancing its ability to retain moisture and nutrients.
  • Overall, soil structure and health have significantly improved, contributing to better climate resilience.

The trials also reveal that the rice–wheat and rice–maize cropping systems under conservation agriculture are delivering:

  • Impact on Yields and Farmers’ Livelihoods:
  • Higher yields
  • Reduced cost of cultivation
  • Savings in time and energy
  • Doubling of farm incomes in many cases

These outcomes underscore the scientific foundation that led to the implementation of the Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) project in the region.

Hon’ble Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Deputy CM Bihar Shri Vijay Kumar Sinha, & DG, ICAR reviewed the long-term trials on Rice–Wheat Cropping systems jointly conducted by RCPAU and CIMMYT-BISA.

Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan commended the impressive results, highlighting them as a model for sustainable agricultural transformation in India. The long-term trials at RPCAU stand as a strong example of collaborative research between RPCAU, BISA, and CIMMYT. The scientific evidence generated from these trials laid the foundation for the implementation of the Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) project, which was launched by the Government of Bihar in 2019.

The collaborative effort between RPCAU, CIMMYT-BISA stands as a shining example of how research-backed innovations can support farmers while preserving environmental health.