PMS



The three-year tenure of the Country's famous genetics and plant breeding expert, as Vice Chancellor of Birsa Agricultural University (BAU), Dr Omkar Nath Singh is going to be completed on September 18. Despite the severe shortage of human resources, the university has achieved countless successes at the National level in the last three years in the research field of agriculture and allied subjects.

Dr Singh says that on the research front, the last three years can be called the golden years of BAU. During this period, a book named 'Compendium of Technologies' was published by the university by documenting more than 150 technologies developed in agriculture and related subjects in 40 years which is proving useful for making strategies for agricultural development and for agricultural stakeholders, he added.

“There has been a lot of change in the weather patterns of Jharkhand in the last years. Apart from excess rainfall, deficit rainfall, drought, thunderstorms and hailstorms, agricultural work is at risk. Lack of rain water management, acidic problem land and fallow uplands have been the main reasons for agricultural risk,” said Dr Singh.

As soon as he assumed the charge of the VC, he gave impetus to the research program by giving special focus on timeliness in research activities in agriculture and allied subjects, development of locally suitable crop species and locally applicable technological development. Under the Directorate of Research, the international projects of IRRI and INCRISAT and All India Coordinated Research Projects of ICAR carried forward the research programs with the coordination and team spirit of the scientists. The university has got much better results than expected due to the immense cooperation and dedication of the scientists.
After two years of continuous efforts and 22 years after the formation of Jharkhand, the Government of India recently launched an ambitious project named Caste of Cultivation under the university. With this, the State will be represented in determining the MSP of crops as per the sentiments of the farmers.

After about a decade, a total of 16 improved varieties of 11 different crops suitable for the local ecology were developed by the agricultural scientists of the university which was released for the farmers by the State Varietal Release Committee under the chairmanship of the Agriculture Secretary. Out of these, gazette notification of a total of 12 improved varieties of 9 crops was issued by the Central Varietal Release Committee. All these crop species are improved varieties with short duration, drought and disease resistance and high production. These varieties have been brought into the state seed chain effectively and among the farmers through Krishi Vigyan Kendras. Scientists were successful in preserving more than 3030 germplasm from India and abroad.

The university has made many outstanding achievements in the field of medicinal research. For the first time, the University received patents for two herbal formulation products ‘Birsol’ and ‘Bircin’ developed by a forestry scientist. This has been a major historical achievement. Similarly, 'Aloe Vera Village' established in Deori village of Ranchi district got national recognition by the Prime Minister's address in the 81st episode of 'Mann Ki Baat'. NPGR allotted National Identification Number to the collection and research of 30 quality germplasm of Giloy from Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and other remote rural areas of the Country. The inauguration of the Country's first 'Giloy Processing and Research Centre' was completed.

After decades, with special efforts, the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) project got approval from ICAR. Two indigenous pig breeds 'Banda' and 'Purnia' were discovered by scientists which was registered by the National Bureau of Animal Genetics under new animal species and allotted national identification number to both the breeds. The expansion of hybrid pig breed ‘Jharsuk’ and hybrid chicken breed ‘Jharsim’ was promoted. These two hybrid breeds are becoming popular not only in Jharkhand but also in East and Eastern India.

Under the ICAR-NAHEP project, 'Integrated Farming System' is being developed and standardized for 2 hectares of land suitable in different districts of the State. Organic vegetable based integrated farming system and biodiversity park have been developed and commendable initiatives have been taken in the direction of natural farming. For the first time, research on apple, fruit and cashew cultivation has been promoted in Palamu and East Singhbhum districts of Jharkhand.