EDF and RPCAU Partner to Research and Promote Climate-Smart Agriculture in Bihar

(Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar – Oct. 11, 2021) Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agriculture University (RPCAU) and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) have partnered to research the impacts of climate change on agriculture in Bihar and promote sustainable farming practices and technologies that can enhance farmer income and boost climate resilience.

RPCAU and EDF will also launch an academic program that will include the exchange of faculty and students to conduct joint climate research. 

“Today’s agreement will allow EDF and RPCAU to bring together the best research to develop and promote sustainable farming in Bihar,” said Richie Ahuja, Associate Vice President of Climate-Smart Agriculture at EDF. “Rural farms in Bihar have an abundant opportunity to become climate resilient while ensuring the social benefits of sustainable development and higher farmer income. We’re proud to be working with RPCAU’s talented team to help bring about urgently needed climate solutions to Bihar’s rural communities.” 

EDF has worked in Bihar for more than six years, engaging with partners like CIMMYT, BAMETI and DeHaat to promote science-based recommendations on climate-smart agriculture practices.

Under the new agreement, RPCAU and EDF will engage in discussions and assessments of state policies related to climate-smart agriculture, climate change and disaster risk reduction. Leveraging RPCAU’s work in Bihar, EDF and other collaborators will together help generate more localized and customized climate-smart technologies for the state’s agricultural extension system to improve crop productivity and resilience while reducing greenhouse gas emissions from farms.

“We are keen to work together to generate and share climate-smart agriculture knowledge and resources among the education, research and farming communities,” said Dr. R.C. Shrivastava, Vice Chancellor, RPCAU. “This work is essential to improve farm profitability, food security and climate resilience for farmers and communities around the world.”