About IGFRI
ICAR – Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI), Jhansi
Establishment and Objectives
The Government of India established IGFRI under ICAR in Jhansi, the city of Rani Lakshmi Bai, to ensure the supply of nutritious green and dry fodder and promote efficient grassland management. Known as “Grassland”, the institute focuses on forage crop and grassland research, technology dissemination, and human resource development to boost livestock productivity.
Since 1970, IGFRI coordinates AICRP-FCU with 23 sub-centres across India. Four regional centres are located at Avikanagar (Rajasthan), Dharwad (Karnataka), Palampur (Himachal Pradesh), and Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir). IGFRI is ISO 9001:2015 certified.
Major Achievements
- Developed over 350 forage varieties, including 100+ climate-resilient types.
- Research in grassland development, forage production, conservation, utilization, and livestock management.
- Innovative technologies: year-round forage systems, hydroponics, Azolla, organic fodder, silage, feed blocks, etc.
- Machinery: seed drills, pellet machines, urea treatment threshers, etc., widely adopted by farmers.
- MoUs with academic institutions and entrepreneurs for technology transfer.
- R&D in 28 Indian states for forage improvement and livestock productivity.
Farmer-Oriented Projects
IGFRI leads national/international projects like NIFTD, Model Fodder Villages, Adarsh Gram Yojanas, Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, Farmer FIRST, and NEH projects. These involve farmers, especially women, in fodder production, balanced nutrition, machine use, seed processing, and storage, improving livelihoods and income.
