ICAR-IIAB Ranchi Gets ₹119 Crore Agri-Biotech Upgrade
- Outlay: ₹119 crore research infrastructure
- Facility: ICAR-IIAB Garhkhatanga, Ranchi
- Key asset: NEXTGEN breeding facility
- Beneficiaries: 1,500 regional tribal, SC farmers
Eastern India’s drive toward climate-resilient agriculture received substantial institutional backing with a ₹119 crore infrastructure expansion at Ranchi’s ICAR–Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology. The capital investment introduces a specialized NEXTGEN Breeding Facility alongside modern academic complexes, built to fast-track crop genomics and livestock biotechnology from institutional labs into local fields.
The upgraded campus will target long-standing structural handicaps across Jharkhand and eastern states, including widespread soil acidity, phosphorus deficiency, and chronically low cropping intensity on fallow paddy lands. Agricultural scientists at the facility are combining molecular breeding techniques with embryo transfer technologies for dairy herds, aiming to improve livestock genetics and diversify farm incomes through integrated agriculture.
Unveiling the facilities before 1,500 tribal and scheduled caste farmers ahead of the Rabi sowing season, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan paired the research rollout with an urgent call for a nationwide campaign against counterfeit inputs. Participating growers received certified seed kits, specialized dairy cooling tools, and nano-fertilizers, highlighting an intensified policy focus on curbing fake agrochemicals while scaling verified biotechnology across rural belts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new facility inaugurated at ICAR-IIAB Ranchi?
The Ministry inaugurated a ₹119 crore expansion including a NEXTGEN Breeding Facility, administrative-school complex, sports facilities, and foundational work for a regional guest house.
Which agricultural challenges does ICAR-IIAB Ranchi target?
The institute focuses on regional agro-climatic issues across Eastern India, such as acidic soils, phosphorus deficiencies, livestock productivity, and crop intensification in rice-fallow areas.
Who received inputs during the Pre-Rabi Kisan Goshti?
Around 1,500 Scheduled Caste and tribal farmers from Ranchi, Khunti, Gumla, and Ramgarh received high-yielding seeds, nano-fertilizers, and dairy management equipment.
Source
Press Information Bureau Release ID: 2321011, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare · 2026-10-08
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