Focus on nutrition, farm growth at BAU Kisan Mela

Bhagalpur: The three-day national ‘Kisan Mela 2026’ organised by Bihar Agricultural University (BAU) concluded on Wednesday, highlighting advancements in modern farming and farmer engagement.

Held from March 16 to 18, the event focused on the theme of improving nutritional and food security through increased production of pulses and oilseeds, aiming to boost farmers’ income and strengthen the agricultural economy.The mela featured seminars on digital agriculture, showcasing research achievements and innovations by the BAU. Several publications, including ‘Bihar Farmer Diary-2026’, ‘Krushak Sandesh’, and guides on mushroom production and beekeeping, were released on this occasion.

The BAU also introduced a ‘Millet Nutri Tiffin Box’ and an AI-based film titled ‘Advanced Agriculture, Bright Bihar’, reflecting a push towards technology-driven farming.Vice-chancellor Duniya Ram Singh emphasised the importance of enhancing pulses and oilseeds production for national and state-level food security. He said that the BAU is currently running multiple research projects on legume and oilseed crops. BAU has also made significant progress in linseed research, developing five improved varieties and contributing around 22% of the country’s certified linseed seed production, he said.