Students from Central University of Odisha Visit MSSRF’s Tribal Agrobiodiversity Centre (TAbC)

As part of the Deekshaarambh-2025 program, 58 first-year B.Sc. Agriculture students from the Central University of Odisha visited the Tribal Agrobiodiversity Centre of M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) in Jeypore on 15th September 2025. The educational tour offered a unique opportunity for students to engage with sustainable agricultural practices and modern resource management techniques.

They gained hands-on knowledge about vermicomposting, azolla, blue-green algae. Wherein, they learned its preparation methods and its application in farming system for enhancing soil fertility. Then they explored the Integrated Farming System (IFS) model, which showcases a diverse range of crops, and learned about crop morphology and the interlinkages of the model.
The highlight of the visit was the exploration of conservation plots, where students witnessed the cultivation of 205 paddy landraces and 79 finger millet landraces. The session highlighted the importance of conserving indigenous varieties, along with their unique traits and cultivation practices. Besides, they visited Nutrition Garden, illustrating the critical role of dietary diversity and food security in combating the micronutrient deficiencies. 

The visit concluded at the laboratory facilities, where they were introduced to bio-agents such as Trichoderma and Rhizobium, their production processes, and applications in agriculture. They also gained practical insights into mushroom spawn production techniques.

The exposure visit provided the students with a valuable opportunity to connect classroom learning with practical applications, while also sensitizing them to the significance of agrobiodiversity and sustainable farming practices.