Speciality:

Atari Address- ICAR-ATARI Zone-IV Patna ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Zone-IV, Patna

Host Institute Name- Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agriculture University Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar

Pin Code- 841313

Website- http://www.kvksaran.org/

Preview- "Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Saran was established by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in March, 2006 under the administrative control of Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur; Bihar observing the possibilities and potentialities of growing cereals, pulses, fruits and vegetables as well as medicinal and aromatic plants in the alluvial fertile tracts of Saran district. Since then, it has proved to be one of the leading centers for front line extension education in the district mandated to organize vocational trainings in agriculture and allied vocations with emerging advances in agriculture research on regular basis. The Centre is also dedicated to organize and conduct front line demonstrations in consultation with subject matter specialist for testing, refining and documenting region specific and sustainable land use system.

The Centre has conducted more than 42 OnFarm Trials since its inception for technology assessment, refinement and validation and documented a number of technologies for the microclimatic situation of Saran district of Bihar. The recommendations based on the On Farm Trials are well adopted by the farmers and a number of Front Line Demonstrations have also been conducted for broad basing of the technology. There was an overall increase of 40-70% in yield over Farmers' Practice apart from saving in cost of cultivation and conservation of natural resources. The short and long duration training programmes, both on campus and off campus, was very much effective in employment generation and all round development of the farmers as well as of rural youths. Cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants, vermicomposting, tie and dye, organic farming, resource conservation technology along with Integrated Farming System and fruit and vegetable preservation were the prime concern during the year that attracted the young generation and a number of rural youths could get their agri-enterprises established through self-employment.

Since the district is facing severe drought situation receiving nearly half of the normal rainfall during last fifteen years, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi has started ""National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture"" in this district in February 2011 and since then a number of technologies have been devised to fight the challenges of climatic vagaries and the farmers are now able to take satisfactory yield levels even during drought and flood situations. Efforts on natural resource management, introduction of drought and flood tolerant varieties, conservation tillage, staggered rice nurseries and innovative approaches of establishing Custom Hiring Center for assured and timely sowing of crops have tremendous effects on increasing and sustaining crop production.

The Center has joined hands with IARI sponsored ""IARI-Post Office Linkage"" for easy and faster dissemination of technology to the remotest farmers of the district. Again, for the sake of farmers, the KVK is organizing awareness programmes on ""Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights"" in a mission mode and at least 14 new crop cultivars are being tested at DUS centers and several new entries are expected to come this year. Also, Trials on Wheat and Maize through Nutrient Experts Software in collaboration with International Plant Nutrition Institute have proved its worth in optimizing the fertilizer dose.

The prevailing Rice-Wheat cropping system are being diversified and intensified to suit the demand of the farmers as well as to the micro-climatic condition and efforts are being made to have food security, nutritional security and above all the economic security of the farming community. This is just a matter of time that we could prove our worth in terms of overall economic growth of the farmers of Saran district and of the country as a whole."