By Avijit Biswas
Bhagalpur: The Bihar Agricultural University (BAU), Sabour’s project “Agri-Innovations for Farmers Livelihood Upliftment (AIFLU)” has won the prestigious SKOCH award. Instituted in 2003, the SKOCH award honors individuals, projects, and institutions for their significant contributions to the nation.
The BAU project was selected for the award after experts acknowledged that AIFLU has effectively met its goal of uplifting farmers’ livelihoods.
Dr. D. R. Singh, Vice-Chancellor of BAU, received the award at a function held today at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. Dr. Singh stated that the award for the AIFLU project recognizes the university’s achievements in sustainable agriculture. It also appreciates the university’s commitment to increasing rural livelihood opportunities and promoting inclusive growth.
Under the AIFLU project, BAU has initiated efforts to uplift farmers’ livelihoods by promoting proper crop varieties, technologies like tissue culture, and the use of bio-fertilizers. Innovative extension tools such as the Kissan Help Line and community radio have also been employed.
The AIFLU project has successfully increased farmers’ incomes through crop diversification and empowered women in agriculture while enhancing community engagement.
BAU plans to further expand the project’s scope by introducing more resilient high-yielding crop varieties, technological innovations, and improved extension services to reach farmers in remote areas. The university aims to integrate advanced digital tools to provide real-time localized agricultural advice and promote sustainable farming through eco-friendly practices.
Additionally, BAU plans to intensify efforts towards women’s empowerment and community engagement for inclusive growth and development under the AIFLU project. According to BAU authorities, the ultimate objective is to popularize the best global agricultural practices in Bihar. To achieve this, the university plans to collaborate with reputed national and international agricultural research institutes.
