April 27, 2025: BAIF Rural Innovation Centre (BRIC) at Urulikanchan, Pune in Maharashtra, the first-of-its-kind Rural Knowledge Centre in a peri-urban area, was inaugurated by Shri. Giriraj Singh, Hon. Union Minister for Textiles, on April 27, 2025 in the presence of Dr. Bharat Kakade, President, BAIF, Shri. Sarveshwar Prasad Singh, MLC, Bihar, Shri. Ravi Madan, MD and Mr. Sanjay Agrawal, FiveF Agroecology LLP, senior officials from the Textiles Ministry and BAIF.
The Hon. Minister highlighted how a self-reliant rural economy can make a significant contribution to the Hon. Prime Minister’s mission of Atmanirbhar Bharat. He emphasized the importance of scalable, replicable models implemented by BAIF through its on-going field programmes and by those being demonstrated at the Innovation Centre such as cactus value chain, plant propagation techniques, agrivoltaics, energy alternatives, soil enrichments, animal nutrition, animal genetics and land degradation neutrality initiatives in fostering climate mitigation and adaptation pathways while augmenting rural livelihoods. He encouraged BAIF to extend the high potential demonstrations at the Innovation Centre to various parts of the country.
Dr. Kakade in his address, stated that this innovation centre has evolved from the need to respond to the well-being and empowerment of the rural communities. He further stated that this unique centre will serve as a knowledge hub by providing information, resources and training on renewable and non-conventional energy technologies, livestock and dairy management demonstration. This centre will help generate employment opportunities for village youth through social enterprises and skills development, provide access to cutting-edge technologies and innovations and ensure scope for collaborative research. This innovation hub spread on 24 ha, will also focus on natural and organic farming practices along with artificial intelligence-driven technologies for promotion of sustainable climate-smart agricultural practices among the rural communities.
Apart from BAIF Senior team – Dr. Jayant Khadse, Mr. Rakesh Warrier, Mr. Pramodkumar Takawale, Dr. Vitthal Kauthale, Dr. Sachin Joshi, Dr. Shivaji Sontakke, Dr. Rahul Bahulikar and Mr. Sadashiv Nimbalkar, progressive leaders of Urulikanchan region were also present on this occasion.
