Patna, August 20, 2026: Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, along with the Agriculture Minister, Government of Bihar, Vijay Kumar Sinha, visited the Integrated Farming System (IFS) models established at the ICAR–Research Complex for Eastern Region (ICAR–RCER), Patna, on August 20, 2026. The Ministers were welcomed by Dr Rajbir Singh, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension), ICAR, New Delhi.
During the visit, Chouhan interacted with scientists and practising farmers and discussed the potential of Integrated Farming Systems to enhance farm income, improve resource-use efficiency and reduce production risks. He appreciated the one- and two-acre IFS models developed by ICAR–RCER, particularly their relevance to small and marginal farmers.
The Union Agriculture Minister visited the two-acre IFS model, which integrates field crops such as rice, wheat, chickpea, mustard and lentil with fruits, vegetables, dairy, fisheries and duck farming. The model includes two milch cows and a calf, 35 ducks and a floating poultry unit, demonstrating how multiple enterprises can be integrated within a limited area to enhance farm income and reduce the risks associated with dependence on crop-based farming alone.
The model also showcased the use of pond dykes for growing fruit crops such as mango, banana, lemon and guava. Innovative cultivation of climber and creeper vegetables over water bodies, including ponds and Azolla tanks, demonstrated the productive use of otherwise underutilised spaces. Resource-recycling units, including a biogas plant and vermicomposting, were also demonstrated as integral components of the IFS models.
The Minister appreciated these innovations for their potential to generate additional income from different components of the farm through efficient utilisation of available land, water and vertical space.
He was also apprised of the Nano (125 sq. m/one katha) and Micro (250 sq. m/two katha) homestead farming models developed by the Institute for very small and landless households. These models are designed to support year-round income and nutritional security while reducing dependence on external inputs.
Practising IFS farmers shared their success stories with the Minister and reported that their incomes had increased three to five times following the adoption of IFS technologies. Chouhan called for wider adoption of diversified IFS models tailored to farmers’ landholding sizes and available resources.
Dr Anup Das, Director, ICAR–RCER, briefed the Minister on the ecosystem-specific IFS models and other system-based technologies developed by the Institute, particularly for small and marginal farmers in the Eastern Region, with special relevance to Bihar. Dr Sanjeev Kumar, Principal Investigator, AICRP–IFS, and Head, Division of Crop Production, explained the technical features and functioning of the IFS models.
Dr Ranjay Kumar Singh, ADG (Extension), ICAR, New Delhi, and Dr Bikas Das, Director, ICAR–National Research Centre on Litchi, were also present during the visit.
The Ministers also planted a mango sapling at the IFS unit on the Institute campus.
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