A. The challenges for future agriculture are enormous. The future agriculture will have to address issues like high energy cost, labour and water productivity, resource use efficiency, climate change, less land for more mouth to feed etc. Therefore, the major challenges are food, nutrition and livelihood security to all and resource sustainability.

A. To address the emerging challenges, we are in process of preparing a road map in form of vision 2050 encompassing all the arena of agricultural education, research, extension and training need. The vision have major focus on improving land and water productivity, energy use efficiency, labour productivity and environmental sustainability. I dream to see Bihar Agricultural University on the top of the world in the agricultural education, research, extension and training. A lot of initiatives have been taken in this regards.

A. Presently, we have categorized research programs in five sub groups namely crop improvement, natural resource management, crop protection, social sciences, product development and marketing. These research programs are run by different units like Agriculture College, Veterinary College, College of Horticulture, various regional research stations, planned and non-planned projects, AICRPs, competitive grants and networking projects. The university has made collaboration and linkages with national and international partners, framed interdisciplinary research teams and capacity building of the scientists by training them in national and international institutes in relevant fields.

A. The University has a very strong programme to work with the farmers. We have developed ample of technologies for the benefits of the farming community. These include Electronic Media & Production Centre (EMPC), Community Radio and Short Messaging Services, connectivity with five Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) to connect with farmers from the university headquarters with timely and relevant messages, Community Radio Station, Mobile messaging services, Kisan Helpline, Kisan Chaupal, Kisan Mela , Agri-Entrepreneurship development among others. I feel that the all the programme including Kisan Chaupal and helpline has contributed very well to its cause for empowering the farmers and other stakeholders.

A. The University had started ‘Kisan Chaupal’ (Bihar Krishi Vishwa Vidhyalay Kisano Ke Dwar) on April 28, 2012 in 20 districts that fall under the jurisdiction of the university. The Chaupal aims to solve agriculture related problems of the farmers and also facilitate transfer of knowledge, apart from informing women about the new findings in the field of Home Science. Scientist from Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) and teachers concerned reply to the queries of the farmer. Key issues like farmer’s field, Orchard Management, vegetable cultivation, apiculture, organic farming, animal husbandry, and fisheries are highlighted in those discussions. Creating awareness among farmers regarding various centrally sponsored and state sponsored schemes in Agriculture & Allied Sector is also one of the major role of this chaupals. A total of 1600 Kisan chaupal have been organized which has benefitted over 71400 farmers comprising more than 56300 male and 15000 female farmers.

A. Attracting youth towards agriculture is an emerging issue in the recent times. It is a great challenge to agricultural universities/institutions to fulfill the aspirations of the youth in terms of lucrative profit and respect in the society through agriculture and allied activities. The only way is to transform subsistence farming into commercial agriculture. Keeping in view the above concerns, under agri-entrepreneurship development programmes, youths are being motivated in different ways. The specific objectives of agri-entrepreneurship development programme include promotion of agri-entrepreneurship and allied enterprises, development of capacity building, business plan making, different skill for performing agricultural enterprises, marketing management and research on agri-entrepreneurship development.

A. The adoption of new technologies in agriculture needs scientific and technological skills to be inculcated, where University plays an important role though extension and training to farmers and other stake holders. Small farmers need different approaches and have shown a remarkable capacity to use new technologies once they are given incentives and adequate infrastructural support. We need higher investments in research, education and infrastructure for desired growth in agriculture. During the recent years the food habits have also seems to be changing. Therefore, crop diversification and integrated farming systems are needed for meeting the food and nutritional security of the communities and also for having resilience to climate change. Here agriculture research, education and training play a pivotal role in attaining the desired food, nutrition and livelihood security.

A. While serving as Horticulture Commissioner in the Horticulture Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Govt of India, I conceived and initiated a number of new programmes having an end-to-end approach for the overall development of horticulture in the country. By and large, the progress of the programs such as National Horticulture Mission, National Bamboo Mission, Micro irrigation Mission is satisfactory.

A. First of all we need to adopt good agricultural practices for fruits and vegetables production. Secondly, increasing use of better varieties or hybrids suitable to the eco specific region in order would ensure higher productivity. Use of advanced technologies like poly house cultivation to ensure production of off season as well as high quality vegetables must be encouraged. Moreover, we need to use of modern technologies including drip irrigation, bio pesticides, bio fertilizers, organic farming, integrated nutrient management, integrated pest management to save water and other resources as well as get optimum high quality produce.

A. Many of the facts are yet to be established which is already in process.