Advancing the date of rice transplanting by 15 days, has increased the plant population by 25 to 40 per cent. This has enhanced the utilization of rainwater from 40-50 percent to 80-100 percent and doubled the production. Partial adoption of the improved rice production technology package has spread over 10,294 ha in 102 villages. The farmers are now harvesting 4.5 t/ha rice and 4.0 t/ha wheat instead of 1.30 t/ha rice and 1.99 t/ha wheat, respectively in these villages.

Two “Farmers’ Information and Service Centres” at Vikram block with a sub-center at village Sangrampur and second center at Bedauli village in RP Channel -5 distributary were established to supply quality inputs and to create scientific awareness among farmers.

Large scale FLDs on released (22) varieties of tomato, brinjal, cucumber, pointed gourd, ridge gourd, peas and beans etc. have been conducted to demonstrate the advantages of new varieties. Similarly FLDs on 3-tier system production involving mango/litchi/aonla as main crop, guava/custard apple/lemon etc. as filler crop and vegetable/cereals/ pulses/oilseeds/tuber crops as intercrop have been demonstrated at 60 farmers’ fields.

Minikit trials of pre released vareiteis in different vegetable crops have been conducted at farmers’ fields to help growers know the performance of pre released varieties.

Kisan Diwas/Field days have been organized from time to time to educate the farmers. Every year field days on litchi, aonla, vegetables etc. are organized.

Training programmes on different horticultural crops have been organized for increasing production and productivity. Altogether 60 training programme of 1 to 10 days and two programme of 72 days duration have been conducted in which more than 3500 farmers/officers have been trained.

Seeds and planting materials have been supplied to Zonal Research Stations of BAU at Dumka, Chianki and Darisahi; KVKs at Hazaribagh, Ranchi, Sahebganj, Chianki in Jharkhand and Jamuai and Madhubani in Bihar. Seeds have been supplied to Deptt. of Agriculture, Govt. of Jharkhand and to various NGOs and farmers for distribution/cultivation in almost all the districts of Jharkhand.

An average increase of 16 per cent, 51 per cent and 43 per cent in yield of rice, potato and maize respectively in rice-potato-maize cropping system was achieved where balance dose of fertilizer was applied under IVLP at Patna.

Rearing of Divyan breed of poultry was observed to be more economical than indigenous breed in respect of age at first egg laying and total egg production in a study at Patna.

For the improvement of livelihood through additional income generation, Khaki Campbell breed of ducks were distributed among 41 landless farmers and unemployed youth from 8 villages. On an average a farmer earned Rs. 480 from single bird by the sale of eggs. Moreover, 5 farmers raised ducklings from the eggs with the help of indigenous poultry and generated an additional income of Rs.700 per family per year.

Low productivity of dairy animals, delayed maturity, anoestrous, unexplained infertility, high cost of animal feeds and scarcity of green fodder especially during October to December were some of the constraints faced by the farmers. Lack of scientific knowledge about aquaculture, unavailability of quality fish seed and infestation of ponds by weeds were some of the major constraints in traditional fish production, based on survey conducted in selected villages of Patna.

Under resource conservation, the Zero Tillage technology has been popularized in 22 districts of Bihar, covering more than 6000 ha area. This reduced the cost of cultivation by about Rs. 2000 per ha. Majority of farmers (80 per cent) reported that there was increase in wheat yield under ZT in comparison to conventional sown wheat. Twenty two per cent farmers reported 2 to 4 q/ha increase in yield through ZT.

The improved varieties of different vegetable crops developed at HARP have been demonstrated in fields of 1000 farmers. Under economic assessment of horticultural technologies at farmers fields, the varieties developed at HARP, Ranchi demonstrated under the Front Line Demonstration proved their consistency by promising returns worked out as with the benefit: cost ratio ranging between 2.11 to 4.79 irrespective of different categories of farmers.

Rice fish system was popularized in low land area. By adopting this technology farmers harvested 2 to 3 tonnes fishes and 3 tonnes of rice in one-hectare area.

Field exposure of farmers to technologies on enhancement of water productivity through multiple use of water indicated that, one-third farmers were encouraged to adopt fish related technologies. Thirty seven per cent farmers preferred fish-cum horticulture in waterlogged area. Nineteen percent respondents equally liked fish pond- cum- secondary reservoir and rice- cum- fish cultivation. Only 15 per cent farmers were reluctant to adopt any fish production technology.

Twelve technologies viz. multiple use of water, multitier horti based cropping systems, fish production in low land area programme, poly house for raising early vegetable nursery in winter season and early summer crop, mushroom production by landless families, zero tillage in wheat, rice-fish system, backyard poultry for livelihood improvement of resource poor farmers, small scale duck farming for livelihood improvement of landless families and unemployed rural youth, animal health care support to farmers, bund height and LEWA (Low Energy Water Application) device in farmers’ fields were accelerated. It was reported by the farmers that the Low Energy Water Application (LEWA) device reduced the total irrigation time and the expenditure incurred on energy cost. Overall, a saving of 30-50 per cent of water and energy was obtained.

Raising bund height from 5-7 cm to 20-30 cm in 50 plots of 9 ha, prolonged soil moisture duration causing reduction of two irrigation with less disease incidence and weed.

The technology of raising early vegetable seedlings for winter and summer vegetables was adopted by large number of farmers and farm women. This increased their income by 2-3 times.

More than 100 women in Self Help Groups (SHGs) have started mushroom production in south Bihar and are earning a minimum of Rs.50/Kg Mushrooms by spending only eight rupees.