Bhagalpur: With an aim to motivate scientists, research scholars and students of Bihar Agricultural University (BAU), as well as farmers in the region, to adopt climate-resilient, high-yielding paddy farming, BAU vice-chancellor D R Singh planted paddy saplings at farm fields in Bhagalpur on Saturday amid rain.The field activity focused on two themes — ‘books alone don’t make good agricultural scientists’ for research scholars and students and the ‘learn by doing programme’ for farmers.The VC said students, scientists, research scholars and farmers participated in the programme.The session covered key aspects of paddy cultivation, including spacing between plants, the number of seedlings at each location, the correct seedling age and planting time, climate-resilient cultivation, high-yielding varieties suited to Bhagalpur and organic farming.Singh said good agricultural scientists were shaped in fields, not books alone. Practical demonstrations covered scientific spacing, line-sowing techniques, seedling gaps and water management, all crucial for improving yields.The programme also aimed to transfer scientific knowledge from laboratories and classrooms to farms and promote BAU-developed high-yielding and climate-resilient paddy varieties.The VC said scientists had been directed to organise similar programmes for major crops. He said paddy was a staple crop in Bihar and across the country, supporting millions of farmer families, making practical scientific knowledge essential.The programme was attended by BAU director (seeds and field) Mohammad Feza Ahmad, Sanjay Kumar, Rajesh Kumar and Shambhu Prasad, besides scientists, students and PhD scholars.
