RESEARCH

About Assam Agricultural University Research

Agriculture in Assam is considered as the most valued enterprise playing a pivotal role state’s economy contributing about 19% to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) during 2016-17 engaging about 70% of the population directly or indirectly. Assam Agricultural University (AAU), being the premier institution of North Eastern India has been targeting to produce globally competitive human resources along with pursuing agricultural researches in frontier areas and disseminating generated technologies to the deepest corners of the state to bring sustainability in farming and food security to the ever-growing populations. Emphasis on agricultural development in Assam was also put forwarded during pre-independence era through establishment of Upper Shillong Experimental Farm (now in Meghalaya) during 1897, however, real progress in terms of agricultural research in Assam was took place through Rice Experimental Stations at Karimganj and Titabar during 1913 and 1923, respectively.

Rice variety-Patkai,Prachur,Shatabdi

Three high yielding rice varieties viz., Prachur, Shatabdi and Patkai were notified by the CVRC for cultivation in the state of Assam.

Maize experiment

The experiment on weed management in maize system in rabi recorded the highest grain yield, which has appeared as zonal recommendation in rice maize cropping sequence.

Blackgram variety SBC 50

One newly developed blackgram variety ‘AAU SBC 50’ has completed all the formalities including DNA profiling at NBPGR and ready for submission to SVRC.

Directorates of Research

  • Director of Research (Agriculture) : coordinates the research activities in the field of Agriculture and Community Science. The research activities in agriculture and home science are being undertaken in different departments of the constituent colleges belonging to the two faculties as well as in the six Regional Agricultural Research Stations (AAU-Zonal Research Station) and three Commodity Research Stations (CRS). Constant efforts are being made to address the demand-driven issues in all possible areas. Presently, more than 150 research projects including the AICRP/AINP are in operation in the Faculty of Agriculture and Community Science.
  • Director of Research (Veterinary) : was established in the year 2.4.1989. Previously, this Directorate was designated as Associate Director of Research (From 27.3.1973 upto 2.4.1989). At present this Directorate is manned by one Director of Research (Vety) and one Deputy Director of Research. This Directorate is responsible for planning and overall research activities pertaining to livestock and fisheries of AAU.

Research Network

The University has a fairly good network to conduct research. This includes six Regional Agricultural Research Stations (AAU-Zonal Research Station) and five commodity research stations as indicated below:

Regional Agricultural Research Stations
  • AAU-Assam Rice Research Institute, Titabor : Established in 1923 as a Rice Experimental Station, this became a part of the University in 1980 to conduct research in Upper Brahmaputra Valley Zone (UBVZ) comprising of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Jorhat, and Golaghat districts. The station is located at Titabar town which is about 20 km south of the Jorhat campus of AAU.
  • AAU-Zonal Research Station, Shillongani: This station was initially established to work on pulse crops, oilseed crops and jute under the State Department of Agriculture. The station was transferred to the University in 1973 and was reorganized in 1980 as the Regional Agricultural Research Station for the Central Brahmaputra Valley Zone (CBVZ) which comprises of Nagaon and Marigaon districts. The station is responsible primarily for conducting research on pulses, oilseeds, jute and allied fibres and wheat. It also conducts research on boro rice.
  • AAU-Zonal Research Station, Gossaigaon: Established in 1980, this centre caters to the research need of Lower Brahmaputra Valley Zone (LBVZ) comprising of Kamrup, Nalbari, Borpeta, Goalpara, Kokrajhar and Dhubri districts. This is the lead station for entire Assam in respect of research on crops like buckwheat, niger, linseed etc.
  • AAU-Zonal Research Station, North Lakhimpur: Established in 1980, this station works for the North Bank Plains Zone comprising of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Sonitpur and Darrang districts. It serves the lead function for research on deepwater rice and diaraland agriculture for the entire state.
  • AAU-Zonal Research Station, Karimganj: Established in 1913, this station was transferred to the University in 1973 for research in the Barak Valley Zone (BVZ) comprising of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts. The station is still mainly devoted to research on rice.
  • AAU-Zonal Research Station, Diphu: Located at Diphu, this station was converted in 1980 to a AAU-Zonal Research Station for the Hill Zone (HZ) comprising of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar districts.The station is presently conducting research for the zone primarily on rice, vegetables, maize, tuber crops, and millets.

Commodity Research Stations

  • AAU-Horticulture Research Station, Kahikuchi: This station was established in 1950 primarily to conduct research on coconut and was transferred to the University in 1973.This is now a leading research station for the horticultural crops.
  • AAU-Sugarcane, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Station, Buralikson: The Station came into existence in the year 1969 for conducting research on sugarcane. This farm was earlier owned by the State Department of Agriculture which was later transferred to the University.
  • AAU-Citrus and Plantation Crops Research Station, Tinsukia: The North Eastern Region is an important part of the centre of origin for citrus crops with enormous variability. Considering the importance of the crop, the Citrus Research Station was established at Tinsukia in 1976 to conduct research on all aspects on citrus.
  • AAU-Goat Research Station, Byrnihat: This station, located 18 km away from the College of Veterinary Science at Khanapara, Guwahati; was established in the year 1978 with the mandate of carrying out research on Assam hill goats as well as developing suitable cross bred variety using proven Indian goat breed.
  • AAU-Zonal Livestock Research Station, Mandira: Located 110 km northwest of Guwahati, this centre was established in 1981 with the mandate of developing a livestock based farming system. Presently a plan for developing intensive Integrated Farming System in this centre has been taken.

Research Management System

The University follows a well laid out Research Management System to systematically carryout need based, demand driven, situation specific and problem oriented research. Under the current management system (Figure below), the research problems are identified based on the information collected by the scientists from the farmers’ fields and also on the basis of the feedback received from the line departments of the state government. The system ensures project based funding and effective monitoring of the programs to make them sharply focused to the relevant problems only.