ICAR-RCER Annual Report 2016-17

Abstract

It gives me immense pleasure to present the 16th Annual Report of ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna for the year 2016-17. The institute is contributing immensely in technology development and dissemination through multi-commodity and multi-disciplinary research so as to enhance the productivity and profitability of agricultural production systems, and efficient management of available natural resources in diverse agro-climate zones of eastern states. During the period under report, the institute has developed several technologies for crop production and resource conservation in the backdrop of improved natural resource management strategies to mitigate/adapt to the changing climate challenges. A large number of rice genotypes have been evaluated under drought and submergence stress conditions. In order to increase productivity and cropping intensity in rice-fallows, technologies such as zero tillage and crop residue management have been standardized and popularized. Boro rice has been another area of focus in the last year. For achieving the goal of food, nutritional and livelihood security and increasing the farmers’ income, emphasis has been given on management of fallow lands, conservation agriculture, variety development for stress conditions, water productivity enhancement, rainwater harvesting, diversification in cropping systems with pulses and millets, weed management, solar energy application in agriculture and restoration of degraded lands. Different models of integrated farming systems have been developed for small and marginal farmers of rainfed, irrigated, hill & plateau and waterlogged situations, which have been found ecologically and economically viable. Emphasis has also been given to improve the nutrition and livelihood security of farm women through integrated farming systems.Germplasm of different pulses like greengram, blackgram, pigeonpea, chickpea and lentil were evaluated and promising lines were identified. Similarly a large number of germplasm of mango, litchi, jackfruit, jamun, tamarind, makhana, water chestnut have been collected from different states and evaluated. Promising lines of sweet potato, colocasia, cassava, elephant foot yam and arial yam have been identified. Further, the host-pest interaction and its dynamics in mango have been studied under climate change scenario in eastern region. For augmenting the availability of quality seeds of pluses, two pulse seed hubs have also been sanctioned to the institute. Characterization of Gangatiri, an indigenous breed of cattle, was completed in its home tract of Bhojpur and Buxar districts. Comparative performance of Khaki campbell, White pekin and indigenous duck germplasm collected from Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal was evaluated. Regarding fish health, five districts of Bihar were surveyed to detect the presence of viral diseases of Indian Major Carps through PCR.The institute has also been providing technological support to the farmers of the eastern region of India through its extensive extension network. A total of 122 training programmes, 20 FLDs and 26 OFTs have been conducted for the farmers and state officials. Thirty four villages of four districts of Bihar and Jharkhand were covered under Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav to make the farmers aware of improved technologies. Scientists of the institute have also excelled in strategic and adaptive research, made good contribution in publication of quality research papers in the journal of national and international repute. I acknowledge the consistent support, keen interest and guidance received from Dr. T. Mohapatra, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR in order to plan and implement various research and extension activities. The encouragement, valuable guidance and support rendered by Dr. K. Alagusundaram, DDG, (NRM) is duly acknowledged. All Heads of Divisions/Research Centres deserves appreciation for submitting their research findings in time. I also express my appreciation to the editorial team of this report.