ICAR-MGIFRI, Motihari provides hands-on research and integrated farming systems exposure to students

2 July 2026, Motihari, Bihar

As part of its commitment to strengthening experiential learning and capacity building in agricultural education, ICAR–Mahatma Gandhi Integrated Farming Research Institute, Motihari, organized a comprehensive academic exposure programme for 13 final-year Bachelor of Fisheries Science (B.F.Sc.) students from the College of Fisheries, RPCAU, Pusa. The programme was designed to provide students with hands-on experience in laboratory techniques, fisheries research, soil science, and Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) for climate-resilient agriculture.

The programme commenced with an interactive session, where experts introduced the students to the mandate, research priorities, and ongoing activities of institute. They also highlighted the institute's pioneering work on IFS, resource-use efficiency, soil health restoration, conservation agriculture, and location-specific technologies for the flood-prone and waterlogged agroecosystems of eastern India, particularly Bihar.

Students interacted with scientists on emerging opportunities in the fisheries sector, where they learned about recent developments in fisheries research, sustainable aquaculture, resource management, entrepreneurship opportunities, and career prospects in fisheries and allied disciplines at both national and international levels.

They were also guided on higher education opportunities, competitive examinations, research fellowships, and professional career pathways in fisheries science. Students were encouraged to strengthen their scientific knowledge, practical skills, and interdisciplinary understanding to address future challenges in the fisheries sector.

During their visit to the Soil Science Laboratory, students observed demonstrations of advanced analytical instruments used for soil testing, nutrient analysis, and soil health assessment. The session provided practical exposure to laboratory procedures and highlighted the role of scientific soil analysis in enhancing agricultural productivity and nutrient management.

At the Fisheries Laboratory, students were introduced to modern fisheries research facilities and ongoing laboratory investigations. They also received hands-on training in water quality assessment, including dissolved oxygen measurement, and learned about its importance in scientific aquaculture and fish health management.

The exposure programme also included an extensive visit to the ICAR-MGIFRI research farm, where students observed several flagship field experiments and IFS models. Scientists demonstrated land shaping technologies, pond-based IFS, rice–fish–duck integration, resource recycling approaches, and climate-resilient farming models developed for enhancing productivity, resource-use efficiency, and livelihood resilience in waterlogged ecosystems.

An interactive session with Dr Raghavendra Singh, Director, ICAR-MGIFRI, was a major highlight of the programme. Dr Singh encouraged the students to pursue innovation-driven research, develop multidisciplinary skills, and actively contribute to the sustainable transformation of Indian agriculture and fisheries. He emphasized the growing importance of IFS, natural resource management, and climate-resilient technologies in addressing future food and nutritional security challenges. Students enthusiastically interacted with the Director and scientists, sharing their learning experiences and discussing research opportunities, higher education, and career prospects. They appreciated the institute's multidisciplinary research environment and the opportunity to gain first-hand exposure to modern laboratory techniques and field-based agricultural innovations.

The programme concluded with positive feedback from the participants, who acknowledged that the exposure visit significantly enhanced their practical knowledge of soil science, fisheries, IFS, and climate-smart agriculture. The visit reinforced ICAR-MGIFRI's commitment to nurturing the next generation of agricultural professionals through experiential learning, scientific mentoring, and research-based education.

(Source: ICAR–Mahatma Gandhi Integrated Farming Research Institute, Motihari, Bihar)