ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram, Meerut (Uttar Pradesh) is a
unique institute oriented to take up research on the management of natural resources for holistic
improvement of small and marginal farmers through Integrated Farming Systems (IFS). Institute
has 71 years of glorious history for its service to the nation through strengthening and evolving
farming practices for food, nutritional, livelihood and environmental security. IFS approach is
particularly relevant to address many challenges in today’s agriculture including profitability,
production sustainability, resource use efficiency and climate change.
During the year, the Institute has undertaken various research activities through three research
divisions namely Integrated Farming Systems, Organic Agriculture Systems, Cropping Systems and
Resource Management and one section namely Technology Transfer and Assessment. Besides this,
two national schemes i.e. All India Coordinated Research Project on Integrated Farming Systems
(AICRP-IFS) and All India Network Programme on Organic Farming (AINP-OF) were operated
with 74 centres covering all 15 Agro-climatic regions and 25 states/UTs and 20 centres covering 10
Agro-climatic regions and 16 states, respectively.
The research projects of Institute during the year included 26 In-House, 29 Outside funded and 03
Consultancy projects. The major accomplishments included sustainable resource management for
climate smart IFS, refinement of farming systems for food and nutritional security, development
of farm machinery and tools for IFS models, development of package of practices for organic
production systems, studies on conservation agriculture and climate resilient approach for adaptation
and mitigation of climate change, impact of IFS interventions etc. The up-scaling of technologies
were attempted through outreach programmes viz. SCSP and Farmers FIRST by covering a total of
1985 households in 17 villages in four districts of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The Institute has
also disseminated informations and technologies to farmers through modern IT and social media
tools i.e. dedicated Apps, WhatsApp, YouTube, twitter and also organized several Kisan Gosthis,
field days and awareness programmes.
Over the years, 71 prototype IFS models and 08 Integrated Organic Farming System Models
have been developed under AICRP on IFS and AINP-OF, respectively. For up-scaling through
state line departments, 32 bankable IFS Models for 23 states have been identified. Organic and
Natural Farming farmers from 16 states have been characterized and biochemical characterization
of 05 inputs and validation of ITKs (Indigenous Technical Knowledge) have been conducted.
Efforts towards research in Natural Farming has also been made with testing of Natural Farming
concoctions in rice-wheat cropping system at 04 locations and evaluation of Natural Farming in
different ecosystems covering eight major cropping systems in 16 states.
I express my gratitude to Dr Himanshu Pathak, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR, New
Delhi; Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Ex.-Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR, New Delhi and
Dr. S.K. Chaudhari, Deputy Director General (NRM), ICAR, New Delhi, for their constant guidance,
encouragement and support. I also extend my appreciation and thanks to Dr Rajbir Singh, ADG
(AAFCC) of ICAR, New Delhi, Dr. S. Bhaskar, Ex. ADG (AAFCC), ICAR, New Delhi, and other
staff members of the NRM division, ICAR HQ for their cooperation and support. The contributions
of Dr A.S. Panwar, Ex. Director ICAR-IIFSR are gratefully acknowledged for his guidance and
coordination to achieve the targets of the Institute. The support of all the staff including scientific,
technical, administrative, supporting and contractual is duly acknowledged for taking up Institute’s
Programme and activities. Lastly, I would like to acknowledge the sincere efforts of the PME Cell,
Heads of divisions/units/sections and editorial committee for compiling and publishing this report
in a timely manner.