New Delhi: The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister  Mr Narendra Modi today (18 January 2017) has approved  the establishment of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (lARI), Jharkhand.  IARI Jharkhand will meet the demand of eastern part of India for all-round development of the agriculture sector and agri-reseach and education.

The agri-institute will have an estimated outlay of Rs. 200.78 crores (100% ICAR share) on 1,000 acre land provided by the Government of Jharkhand at Gauria Karma Village in Barhi Block of Hazaribag.  lARI, Jharkhand will be a unique Institution, which will broadly work in similar way as IARI at New Delhi is working for all sectors of agriculture like field crops, horticultural crops, agro-forestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, poultry, piggery, silk and lac rearing, honey production etc.

IARI, Jharkhand aims at working on the agrarian challenges and complexities of eastern India with all existing Central and State Government R&D institutions and Private sector enterprises. The institute will undertake research, education, extension programmes in its mission towards developing quality human resource, generation of farmer friendly technologies to enhance productivity, quality and profitability.

The institute will also promote agro-based industries and generate employment opportunities for holistic and sustainable development of the agriculture sector in the eastern region. It will be an off-campus of IARI, New Delhi and integrated multi-disciplinary research would be undertaken in School mode, i.e. Schools of Crop Sciences, Natural Resource Management, and Animal Sciences.

In another development, the Union Cabinet also approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and United Arab Emirates in the field of agriculture and allied sectors. The MoU will be mutually beneficial to both countries, which will promote understanding of best agricultural practices in the two countries.