Sabour: The 28th Extension Education Council meeting of Bihar Agricultural University (BAU), Sabour, concluded on Saturday with a strong call to bridge the gap between research institutions and rural communities through the ‘Campus to Community’ approach.
The meeting brought together leading agricultural scientists, subject matter experts, progressive farmers, and representatives from Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) across the country. The day-long event began with a ceremonial lamp lighting and a welcome address by Dr R.K. Sohane, Director of Extension Education at BAU.
Vice Chancellor Dr D.R. Singh, who chaired the meeting, underlined the critical role of agricultural universities in delivering tangible benefits to farmers. “The crop varieties developed by BAU are not confined to labs; they are blooming in farmers’ fields across India. Direct farmer participation in seed production is key to ensuring the impact of these technologies,” he said.
Dr Singh further stressed the ‘Campus to Community’ initiative, stating that research and innovation must aim to improve rural livelihoods rather than remain academic exercises.
Presentations during the session highlighted recent advancements, including new paddy varieties introduced by Dr Anshuman Kohli, and extension achievements aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as outlined by Dr Sohane. He noted that training had been provided to farmers on 13 key subjects with a focus on poverty alleviation and skill development.
Dr K.D. Kokate, former Deputy Director General at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), proposed a bold vision: “If agricultural output worth Rs 1 crore can be generated in each village, national income could increase by Rs 7 lakh crore — a significant leap towards making India a trillion-dollar economy.”
Senior scientists including Dr Dhuma Singh (former Director, CSAU&T Kanpur), Dr R.N. Padaria (Joint Director, IARI, New Delhi), and Dr Anjani Kumar (Director, ICAR-ATARI, Patna) also addressed the gathering, offering feedback on the work carried out by BAU-affiliated KVKs.
Highlighting the university’s outreach efforts, Dr Meenu Shashi presented projects tackling malnutrition. Several publications were released during the event, including:
- Prakritik Kheti Evam Swasthya (KVK Bhojpur and Rohtas)
- Prakritik Kheti (KVK Munger)
- Krishak Sandesh (KVK Bhojpur)
- A book on coarse grains (KVK Purnia)
In a nod to knowledge-sharing at the grassroots, progressive farmer Veeresh Kumar from Nalanda was presented with agriculture books for establishing a “Kisan Pustakalaya” (Farmers’ Library) — the fifth such initiative launched by BAU.
The meeting featured presentations from all participating KVKs, followed by expert feedback. Concluding remarks emphasised the importance of strengthening extension education to ensure that innovations reach even the most remote farming communities. The programme ended with a vote of thanks.
