AICRP Dry Land Agriculture

  1. Home
  2. Directorate of Research(Agri)
  3. AICRP Dry Land Agriculture
AICRP Dry Land Agriculture
The Jorhat centre of All India Coordinated Research Project for Dryland Agriculture which was in operation since 10.01.2005 was shifted to Biswanath College of Agriculture, Biswanath Chariali on 12.02.2010. At present, the Centre is located at Biswanath College of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University, Biswanath chariali, Assam. The geographical coordinates are Latitude: 26°84′ N, Longitude: 93°13′ E, with an altitude of 86.7 meters. It falls under the Kochgaon Tehsil/Block, in the Biswanath District of Assam. The Centre is situated in the North Bank Plain Zone (NBPZ) as per the Agroclimatic Zone (NARP), and serves the domain districts of Darrang,Udalguri, Sonitpur, Biswanath,  Lakhimpur, and Dhemaji. The area is classified under the Hot Humid Alluvial Plain agroecological subregion (NBSSLUP).
Mandate of AICRPDA Centre:
• To optimize the use of natural resources, i.e. rainfall, land, water and biodiversity and to minimize the soil and water loss and degradation of environment.
• To evolve simple technologies to increase crop productivity and profitability.
• To increase stability of crop production over years by providing improvements in natural resources management and crop management systems  and alternate crop production technologies matching weather aberrations.
• To develop alternate and sustainable land use systems.
• To study transferability of improved dryland technologies to farmers fields.
Staff position of AICRP for Dryland Agriculture:

Sl. No.

Designation

Name of the incumbent

1.     

Chief  Scientist

Dr. Pallab Kr.Sarma

2.     

Senior Scientist (Agronomy)

Dr. Nikhilesh Baruah

3.     

Scientist (Agronomy) (On farm research)

Dr. Jayanta Kalita

4.     

Scientist (Soil Science)

Dr. Bikram Borkotoki

5.     

Scientist (Soil & Water Conservation Engineering)

Er. Arunjyoti Sonowal

6.     

Senior Technical Assistant

Mr. Nupur Kalita

7.     

Senior Technical Assistant

Mrs Nikhita Kakati

8.     

Senior Technical Assistant

Mr. Rupam Borah

9.     

Senior Technical Assistant

(On farm research)

Mrs Liza Barua Bharali

10.  

Field Assistant

Mr. Lakshyajit Khound

11.  

Field Assistant

Mr. Rontu Moni Borah

12.  

Field Assistant (On farm research)

Mr. Bijoy Bonia

13.  

Lab Attendant

Vacant

14.  

Head Clerk with Computer Skills

Ms Deepa Saikia

15.  

Tractor Driver

Mr. Simanta Bahoi

16.  

Jeep Driver

Mr. Jiten Borah

17.  

Peon

Mr. Pinku Pathak

18.  

YP-I (On farm research)

Mrs. Rupshree Borah

19.  

SRF (NICRA)

Mrs. Rupsikha Goswami

Thematic areas of research: 
At present, AICRP for Dryland Agriculture is conducting on- station experiments at Biswanath college of Agriculture, AAU- ZRS, North Lakhimpur and KVK, Sonitpur under the following thematic areas-
1. Rainwater Management 
2. Cropping System
3. Nutrient Management
4. Alternate land use/ Agro forestry System
5. Energy Management
6. Rainfed Integrated Farming System (RIFs)

The centre is conducting on farm research in four villages (Moralgaon, Disiri, Gingia and Kumalia) under the theme ‘Rainfed Integrated Farming System (RIFs)’. In addition, AICRPDA, Biswanath Chariali centre is also implementing Schedule Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) scheme in Telengania village of Biswanath district. The centre also implemented Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) scheme at Jalakiasuti village of Dhemaji district in collaboration with KVK, Dhemaji during 2011-15.

Projects
    • ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture sponsored project on "National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA)", project cost Rs.11 Lakh


      National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) is a network project of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) launched in February, 2011. The project aims to enhance resilience of Indian agriculture to climate change and climate vulnerability through strategic research and technology demonstration. The research on adaptation and mitigation covers crops, livestock, fisheries and natural resource management. The project consists of four components viz. Strategic Research, Technology Demonstration, Capacity Building and Sponsored/Competitive Grants.

       

      Objectives

      • To enhance the resilience of Indian agriculture covering crops, livestock and fisheries to climatic variability and climate change through development and application of improved production and risk management technologies
      • To demonstrate site specific technology packages on farmers’ fields for adapting to current climate risks
      • To enhance the capacity building of scientists and other stakeholders in climate resilient agricultural research and its application.

      The project is being implemented since 2011 in Lakhimpur district of Assam by adopting two villages (Chamua and Ganakdoloni). Subsequently, the number of villages have been increased to five villages with effect from 2017 (Chamua, Borbali, Nagaya, Borkhet and Jakaipelua) covering 308 households. The village has a total cultivated area of 282 ha. At present, the project is implementing various climate resilient interventions under two modules viz., with crop and animal component and only crop component

      The following climate resilient interventions are being demonstrated under the project:

      Theme

      Number of farmers

      Year of start

      Real Time Contingency plan-

      1. Early season drought

      2. Mid season drought

      3. Terminal drought

      4. Flood

      60

      2011

      Preparedness-

      1.    In-situ moisture conservation

      2.    Ex-situ moisture conservation

      30

      2011

      Crop and cropping system

      60

      2011

      Alternate land used system

      1.Low cost poly house

      2.Mushroom cultivation

      3.Seed bank

      4.Fodder bank

      5.Vermicompost

      65

      2011

      Custom hiring centre

      215

      2011

       

Our Faculties

Dr. Pallab Kumar Sarma

Chief Scientist (Associated Scientist)

Dr. Bikram Borkotoki

Junior Scientist (Associated Scientist)

Dr. Jayanta Kalita

Junior Scientist (Associated Scientist)

Dr. Nikhilesh Baruah

Junior Scientist (Associated Scientist)

Er. Arunjyoti Sonowal

Junior Scientist (Associated Scientist)
Achivements
  • 1. Development of Sustainable Technologies: 
    A total of 11 technologies have already been developed by AICRPDA, Biswanath Chariali Centre and included in the state package of practices of Assam  for the benefit of rainfed farming community of the state (about 80% of cultivated areas ) covering about 56,0294 hectares net cropped area (Statistical handbook of Assam 2021). Moreover, 4 more technologies are in pipeline for inclusion in the state PoP. These technologies were included in the sate PoP on the basis of their performance in improving the production, productivity, profitability and sustainability of the dryland/rainfed farming of Assam.
    Technologies developed
    Theme: Cropping System
    ·Intercropping of Greengram and Black gram with sesame either in alternate rows (1:1) or double rows (2:2). 
    ·Maize based cropping sequences under rainfed upland conditions of Assam 
    ·Optimum planting time for small tuber potato cultivar
    ·Package of practices of intercropping Rajmah with Linseed (2:1)
    Theme: Nutrient management
    ·Recommendation for optimum fertility level in sesame based intercropping.
    ·Soil application of 0.4 % (v/v) (or 80 kg/bigha)produced from weed biomass or crop residue along with RDF (in collaboration with ZRS-North Lakhimpur)
    ·Low cost vermicomposting
    ·INM in Maize-Greengram-Rajmah cropping sequence
    ·INM in Ahu rice-Greengram-Rajmah cropping sequence
    ·Organic package for turmeric
    Theme: Natural Resource Management
    ·Real time contingency planning for managing delayed onset of monsoon and seasonal drought
    2. Farm implements developed for mechanization in dryland agriculture
    a. Name of the implement: Modified portable low cost electrical chaff cutter 
    Recommendation statement: An electric chaff cutter machine with 220-230V (1.5kw/hr) having dimensions of (65×65×8) cm can be used for cutting fodder or banana pseudo stem into small pieces for livestock and for preparing feed stock for vermicompost. 
    b. Name of the implement: Hand operated rotary vermicompost screener/ strainer.
    Recommendation statement: The sieving/strainer machine can be used to improve the rate of sieving efficiency of vermicompost, dried cowdung, etc.
    3. Registration of Indigenous Rice Varieties
    With the effort of AICRPDA Biswanath Chariali centre, five progressive farmers from Chamua village of Lakhimpur district of Assam namely Mr. Kamal Saikia, Mr. BalindraNeog, Mr. Jayanta Neog, Mr. Rohini Neog and Mr Bhaskar Borah were entitled to plant variety rights on five indigenous rice cultivers viz. Khagora Sali, Saha Champa, Sakowa, Nania, and Boka bora, respectively by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPVFR) Authority, Government of India. .These varieties are suitable for preparation of puffed rice, poha (sira), Assamese traditional pitha (cake) from Khagora Sali & Nania, puffed rice, poha, magic rice from Saha champa, puffed rice, poha, magic rice (kumolsaul), Assamese traditional pitha (cake) fromSokua & puffed rice, poha, Assamese traditional pitha (cake), magic rice (kumolsaul, vojasaul) from Boka Bora 
    4. Awards and Recognition to the centre
    The AICRPDA Biswanath Chariali centre received best dryland centre award consecutively during 2012-13 and 2013-14 because of visible and verifiable impacts of rainfed technologies in improving the production, productivity, profitability and sustainability of the rainfed agriculture in Assam. Moreover, Harendra Neog, Jadav Dutta, Rupram Saikia, Kamal Saikia, Jatin Kopah Bora, Jiten Baruah and Diganta Neog from NICRA adopted villages, Devi Prasad Sarma and Dinesh Chandra Baishya, two progressive farmers from NICRA upscaling villages, Luhit sonowal and Bhabani Kachari from TSP village received best dryland farmer award by ICAR-CRIDA for their outstanding contribution in adoption and dissemination of climate resilient technologies demonstrated by AICRPDA, Biswanath Chariali Centre.

aicrp.da[at]aau.ac.in