Three-day Agrotech Farmers’ Fair concludes at BAU

Ranchi: Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar emphasized the need for diversification in agriculture by integrating livestock rearing, horticulture, poultry farming, fisheries, beekeeping, and mushroom cultivation to reduce farmers’ risks and ensure sustainable production and income.

He stated that Jharkhand should become self-reliant in food and nutritional security and also emerge as an exporter of horticultural crops. For this, scientists must work with greater dedication to spread technical knowledge among farmers.

The governor was addressing the closing ceremony of the three-day Agrotech Farmers’ Fair organized at Birsa Agricultural University in Ranchi on Monday. He said that scientists and students must step out of laboratories and regularly visit farmers’ fields so that expected results can be achieved on the ground.

He also stressed the importance of including millets such as ragi (mandua), sorghum, and pearl millet, along with drumstick (moringa) fruits and leaves, in the daily diet to ensure proper nutrition. He suggested that such fairs should also be organized at district and block levels by the state government so that new technologies can reach remote areas.

The Director of the Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Ranchi, Dr. Sujay Rakshit highlighted the efforts being made by about half a dozen ICAR institutes located in Jharkhand to enhance farmers’ productivity and income. Additional Chief Secretary to Governor Dr. Nitin Madan Kulkarni was also present on the dais.

BAU Vice Chancellor Dr. S. C. Dubey delivered the welcome address and outlined the university’s achievements and the objectives of the fair.

The governor also honored six progressive farmers for their outstanding contributions to innovative agriculture: Ravindra Mahto and Umesh Kumar Mahto (Dhanbad), Kalyan Kumar and Satish Devgam (Seraikela-Kharsawan), Sajal Sahay (Ranchi), and Dilip Baraik (Jari, Gumla). He also released a souvenir titled ‘Climate-resilient technological innovations for sustainable agriculture.’

IILM Kanke bags 18 awards in Horticulture Exhibition

In the three-day horticulture exhibition, the Indian Institute of Legal Metrology, Kanke, won the highest number of awards—18 in total, including seven first prizes. Naresh Kumar Mahto of Dhanbad secured the second position with 12 awards, including five first prizes. Ram Kumar Sahu of Hochar, Kanke, stood third with eight awards. A total of 1,115 entries from 236 farmers were received in the exhibition, which featured fruits, flowers, vegetables, spices, ornamental, medicinal, and aromatic plants, as well as processed horticultural products.

Animal Production and Management Stall Wins First Prize

Among the theme pavilions, Animal Production and Management secured the first prize, Crop Improvement the second, and Agricultural Mechanization, Value Addition, and Energy Management the third. Among government institutions, IFFCO won first place, the State Fisheries Directorate second, and the National Seeds Corporation third.

The top three positions among Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) were secured by Divyayan Ranchi, Bokaro, and Khunti, respectively. Among ICAR institutes, the Research Centre Palandu secured first place, the National Institute of Secondary Agriculture, Namkum, second, and the Central Rainfed Upland Rice Research Institute, Hazaribagh, third. The stall of the Regional Research Station, Chianki (Palamu), was also awarded.

The fair witnessed active participation of farmers from almost all districts of Jharkhand with support from Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Zonal Research Stations, district-level Agricultural Technology Management Agencies (ATMAs), farmer producer organizations (FPOs), NGOs, and related state government departments. The event was coordinated by BAU Director of Extension Education Dr Rekha Sinha, while the program was conducted by Shashi Singh.