Sabour: Bihar Agricultural University (BAU) is reshaping the future of sustainable farming in the state by transforming fertilizer dealers into frontline soil health experts. The university’s flagship initiative, the Certificate Course on Integrated Nutrient Management (CCINM), trained a record 857 participants in the 2024–25 academic year—its most ambitious and impactful year to date.
Now in its sixth year, the course has grown steadily from just 180 participants in 2019–20 to a cumulative total of 1,933 trained individuals across the state. These dealers, once seen primarily as product vendors, are now being positioned as “paraextension specialists”—technical advisors with a mandate to promote sustainable nutrient practices among farmers.
The 2024–25 sessions were delivered across six of BAU’s affiliated colleges: BAC Sabour (129 trainees), BPSAC Purnia (60), MBAC Saharsa (282), VKSCoA Dumraon (60), NCoH Nursarai (220) and DKAC Dumraon (106). The program’s rapid expansion—both in reach and relevance—reflects growing recognition of the need for expert-led nutrient management in the face of climate variability and soil degradation.
Speaking on the achievement, BAU Vice-Chancellor Dr D.R. Singh said the university is building a grassroots network of “trusted partners” to ensure soil health interventions reach the last mile. “Through CCINM, we are not only providing technical training, but also creating a strong network that ensures scientific soil health practices are implemented directly in the fields,” he said.
The curriculum is structured around three pillars: building technical skills in soil health management, enhancing awareness of fertilizer regulations, and preparing dealers to serve as local agricultural advisors. Participants are trained to interpret soil health cards, recommend balanced fertiliser use, and communicate best practices to farmers—empowering Bihar’s rural economy from the ground up.
Agricultural scientists view this model as a breakthrough for Bihar, where poor soil fertility and overuse of chemical inputs have long hindered productivity. By turning dealers into knowledgeable intermediaries, BAU is helping bridge the gap between research labs and farmlands.
