Stakeholders Deliberate on Climate Resilient Agriculture at ICAR-RCER

A Stakeholders’ Meeting on Climate Resilient Agriculture Programme was successfully organized on 30th March, 2026 at the ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna. The meeting witnessed active participation from scientists, project workers and farmers from Gaya and Buxar districts of Bihar.

The programme was chaired by Dr. Anup Das, Director, ICAR-RCER, Patna. In his address, Dr. Das emphasized that partial implementation of technologies may not give desired result. in this regard, he narrated that zero tillage without residue retention will not give correct results. He suggested that work plan should be developed to address specific issues and accordingly strategies should be prepared involving different stakeholders.

He also stressed on developing training manuals for farmers having specific issues, formation of climate response group at village level and refinement in technologies as per farmers situation to improve the implementation of the program. He elaborated on strategies to enhance agricultural resilience against climate change-induced challenges such as drought, greenhouse gas emissions, and declining soil health. He also highlighted the importance of diversification and told farmers to adopt integrated farming system.

Guest of Honour, Shri Dharmendra Kumar, DAO, Buxar, in his remark, advised famers that climate resilient technologies not only increase productivity but also save natural resources like water, soil and labour thereby reduce the cost of cultivation. He suggested farmers to take high value crops like sweet corn, baby corn etc, for enhancing income.

Key issues discussed during the meeting included drought, terminal heat, water productivity, crop rotation, soil fertility management, and promoting climate-resilient crop varieties. Farmers shared their field experiences, highlighting major challenges such as limited irrigation facilities, menace of wild animals, and unavailability of agricultural machinery. Despite these constraints, farmers acknowledged the positive impact of C.R.A. interventions in improving their farming systems.

Earlier, the programme commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, symbolizing the beginning of the event. Dr. Abhay Kumar, Principal Investigator, delivered the welcome address and highlighted the objectives of the meeting and progress made during current year. This was followed by brief presentations by Dr. Deokaran, Head, KVK Buxar, and Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Senior Scientist, ICAR-RCER, Patna who shared their experiences regarding implementation of CRA programme at grass root level and elaborated on how the interventions have supported farmers.

The meeting was attended by nearly 60 participants including 10 farmers. Among them, Shri Ranjit Mahto from Village Amethi, District Gaya, shared his experience in addressing water scarcity through crop diversification, cultivation of fruit trees, raised-bed maize production, mushroom cultivation, and crop residue mulching. His initiatives were appreciated as practical examples of climate-resilient farming at the grassroots level.

As part of the programme, farmers visited IFS models, nutri-garden and other diversified activities in institute farm and interacted with experts. The meeting concluded with a collective commitment to further strengthen climate-resilient agricultural practices in the region through coordinated efforts among scientists, policymakers, and farmers. "The meeting ended with formal vote of thanks by Dr Dhiraj Kumar Singh, Senior Scientist", said Sh. Umesh Kumar Mishra, Member Secretary, Media, ICAR-RCER, Patna.