There are four main resarch directorates and more than 16 research programs under the Institute. The research programs under the directorates are maintioned as follows:
1.Crops Research Diractorate:
Cereal crops research program,
Pulse, Oil and Fiber crops research program, and
Horticultural research program.
2. Livestock Research Diractorate:
Dairy research program,
Beef research program,
Sheep research program,
Goat research program,
Poultry research program,
Apiculture research program,
Fisheries and Limnology research program, and
Aquaculture research program.
3. Natural Resoure Management Research Diractorate:
Soil and Water Conservation research program,
Forestry and Agro Forestry research program,
Preharvest and irrigation technology research program, and
Postharvest technology research program.
4.Socio-Economics and Research Extension Research Diractorate:
Socio-Economics and Research Extension research program.
The Regional development emphasis is on the improvement of agricultural productivity which is expected to foster the development of other economic sectors.
The Region's agriculture, however, is severely constrained by unabated deterioration of the basic resources (particularly soil and water); traditional and backward production system
and by inadequate tenure arrangement which failed to motivate the farming population to maximize production and productivity.
Each identified program is summarized in terms of (a) rational for proposing it, (b) envisaged approach to conduct it, (c) expected output, and (d) requirements
for its successful implementation. The major programs within a category are further divided into sub-programs, prioritized and their implementation is time framed as short, medium
and long-term. To achieve the goal ARARI developed and implemented new research proposal design, review and implementation directions.
This research direction is strictly to bring impact on the livelihood of targeted farmers through generate, dissemination and adoption of improved
technologies via project/commodity based, action/impact oriented and multidisciplinary research undertakings. Therefore, ARARI research direction could generally be paraphrased
by the following three respective contrasting elements of the newly recommended and the old conventional research approaches: (1) project/commodity based instead of discipline based
and fragmented research, (2) multidisciplinary/team in place of intra-disciplinary/individualistic research, and (3) action/development/impact oriented instead of transitory
output/outcome oriented research.
1. Project/commodity based instead of discipline based and fragmented research:
Formerly the research programmes were organized under disciplines such as genetics/breeding, agronomy, pathology, entomology, horticulture, animal nutrition, animal health,
etc. Such arrangements may be appropriate for academic institutes which are more interested in the development of scientific disciplines. For development targeted agricultural research
institutes like ARARI, there is no strong justification and rationality to organize research programmes in scientific disciplines. In the middle of wide working areas and plenty of
researchable problems, discipline based research may not focus at specific developmental areas. At the end of the day, when all endeavours of discipline based researches are summarized
and segregated into specific developmental areas/commodities, there will be a little chance to get completed and comprehensive information about the target area/commodity. Experiences
have shown us that activities and outcomes of discipline based research in relation to target commodities are of very fragmented and incomprehensive. From targeted developmental point
of view, thus, project/commodity based research is highly recommended while it enables to consider initially all important aspects of the target area and work towards getting
comprehensive information.
As a result, in the recent past, research activities have been reorganized on the basis of commodity based research programmes, such as cereals, pulses, oil & fiber crops, horticultural crops, poultry, cattle, sheep, goat, soil and water conservation, preharvest and irrigation technology, etc. to name a few. The reorganization enabled the research centres to be able to function comprehensively
from planning to implementation and evaluation. Essential professionals are assigned in each research programme. One of the team members is designated as the coordinator of the
research programme while others can also serve as focal persons for specific commodities of the programme. The coordinator and the team members are responsible and accountable
for the improvement of the programme as a whole. In contrast to the old approach, project/commodity based research ensures more accountability.
2. Multidisciplinary/team in place of intra-disciplinary/individualistic research:
In the old conventional approach, different disciplines deal separately and one does not care about the work of the other. Researchers were only responsible
for their discipline associated issues. Whereas in the project based research the importance of all disciplines is equally recognized and there is a common understanding that one
does not bring any change without the involvement of the other. Thus, all necessary disciplines participate equally and work hand-in-hand in team to attain comprehensive and effective
development in the target sector/commodity. The team takes care of all developmental constraints and does not undermine any of the disciplines. Based on diagnosis survey results,
REFAC feedbacks and regional/national agricultural development strategies, research thematic areas are identified and prioritized by the team at research centre and regional levels.
Prioritized research topics at regional level are further distributed to concerned research centres and researchers for proposal development. Individually prepared research proposals
will be technically evaluated by the team of the programme at centre and regional levels. Approved research proposals will be implemented, monitored and evaluated by the team of the
programme. For budgetary, information feedback and registry purposes, approved research proposals of the programme will be presented to research centre, regional and national annual
research review workshops. Respective programme leaders are responsible for the first workshop, while respective technical directors are responsible for the other two workshops
(see diagram below).
Newly Adopted ARARI Research Review System
3. Action/development/impact oriented instead of transitory output/outcome oriented research:
Generation of technologies by itself is neither an end nor the goal of the research. Technology generation should be envisioned ahead for its final impact
on the livelihood of end users. Indeed, dissemination of technologies is considered as the responsibility of extension. In reality, however, it is not easy as such to disseminate
technologies only by extension workers alone. Rather active involvement of concerned stakeholders including research is paramount for successful technology dissemination and adoption
by farmers. Research should still play a proactive role in technology dissemination by bringing relevant stakeholders on board. In addition to technology generation, side by side
research should actively be involved in action or developmental research activities aiming at bringing impact on the livelihood of end users. One should also bear in mind that
studying the impact of technologies by itself is also part of research. The basic difference of action/developmental research from the conventional research is the participation
of various stakeholders and it is not a one man’s or one institution’s job. At least research, extension, market and credit institutions are badly needed for successful
impact oriented research. Improved technologies would be linked with reliable markets for their rapid dissemination and adoption by farmers. Always technology dissemination is very
limited in subsistent agriculture. Market is an engine for technology dissemination and adoption, and therefore it is very essential either to generate market demanded technologies
or to create effective, efficient and equitable markets for generated technologies.
