Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University

What Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University does

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU) is a central agricultural university established by the Government of India under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, headquartered at Pusa in Samastipur district, Bihar. Founded in 2016 and operating with a workforce of 501–1,000, it functions as both an educational institution and an applied agricultural research body, designing and delivering undergraduate curricula (including India's first natural farming degree programme) and conducting R&D across crops, livestock, and horticulture. Its operating geography is concentrated in Eastern India, with direct field deployment in Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, and surrounding districts.

The university's technology stack spans climate monitoring (Eddy Covariance tower deployed with ISRO's Space Applications Centre for real-time carbon, water vapor, and heat flux data), digital agriculture (the Fasal IoT-SaaS platform integrating AI, drones, and IoT sensors deployed in a model village in Kothiya), agricultural mechanization (patent-pursued battery-powered cabbage harvester on a 12-volt Li-ion bicycle-style frame with 207–221 cabbages/hour throughput), and biotechnology (IVF and embryo transfer producing Bihar's first Sahiwal calves). It also operates dedicated centres of excellence such as the Makhana Research and Development Centre with a 17-member expert task force, a Chrysanthemum Varieties Development Programme with 150+ varieties in germplasm, and a Drone Pilot Training programme offered to all students. Quantitative farmer-side outcomes disclosed include 15% labor cost reduction (~Rs 2,500/hectare), 30–40% yield increases on the Fasal platform, 25% improvement in water-use efficiency, and 30% reduction in carbon emissions via zero-tillage.

RPCAU's revenue mechanics are non-commercial: as a government state entity, it is funded through central grants and ICAR oversight rather than product sales or licensing. Pricing or fees are publicly undisclosed aside from the nominal drone pilot training fee. Distribution operates through direct farmer engagement, model village deployment, technology transfer via extension programmes, and academic collaborations with partners including ISRO, the International Society of Extension Education (INSEE), and Great Mission Consultancy Group for GI tag facilitation. Customer-facing activity targets five primary segments: rural women farmers, agricultural students, makhana (fox nut) farmers, climate-affected farmers, and Bihar agricultural producers seeking GI tag protection — primarily small and mid-sized farmer cohorts in Eastern India.

Name

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University

Legal name

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University

Website

https://rpcau.ac.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU) is a central government agricultural university in Pusa, Bihar, delivering higher education, applied research, and field-deployed agricultural technologies — including AI-driven digital farming platforms, mechanization tools, and biotechnology services — to farmers and students across Eastern India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Education & Research

NAICS

Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating (115112)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Agricultural Services (700), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Land-Grant Public Research Universities (EDAHAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable/Regenerative Agriculture & Conservation Practices (EDAOAOAO), Agricultural Mechanics, Equipment Operation & Maintenance (EDAOAOAI), Carbon, Sustainability & Farm Certification Support (Agro-Environmental Advisory) (AFACABAL), Agribusiness, Farm Management & Compliance (EDAOAOAN), Agricultural & Field Robotics (HDAAAIAD)

Keywords

• Agricultural education
• Agricultural research
• Climate-smart farming
• Digital agriculture
• Crop mechanization

Headquarters

HQ city

Pusa

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University is a public agricultural university that delivers higher education (undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in agriculture and allied sciences), conducts agricultural research, and provides extension and technology transfer services to farmers in Bihar and surrounding regions. The university also develops and disseminates agricultural technologies — including IoT-based digital farming platforms, mechanized harvesters, livestock reproduction techniques, and crop varieties — and runs capacity-building programs such as drone pilot training and natural farming seminars.

Product overview

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU) operates as an agricultural research and education institution offering a portfolio of research programs, agricultural technologies, and training services. The university's product portfolio includes the Fasal IoT-SaaS digital agriculture platform for data-driven farming, the Natural Farming degree programme with its first batch recently graduated, the Battery-Powered Cabbage Harvester for labor cost reduction, IVF technology services for Sahiwal cattle breeding, the Makhana Research and Development Centre of Excellence, a Climate-Smart Agricultural Model developed with ISRO, chrysanthemum breeding programmes, drone pilot training, and GI tag facilitation services for Bihar's agricultural products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fasal IoT-SaaS Digital Farming Platform An integrated IoT-SaaS-based digital farming platform providing real-time field monitoring and precision agriculture capabilities through AI, drone, and IoT sensor technologies, targeted at farmers and agricultural extension programs in Bihar.
• Battery-Powered Cabbage Harvester A farm-mechanization device engineered for smallholder vegetable growers, particularly cabbage farmers, designed to reduce manual labor, lower harvesting drudgery, and increase throughput on small plots.
• Sahiwal Calf Production via IVF and Embryo Transfer Technology An advanced assisted-reproduction service that produces Sahiwal calves through IVF and embryo transfer to strengthen indigenous cattle breeds and improve dairy productivity for livestock keepers.
• Drone Pilot Training Program A certified drone-pilot training program delivered to farmers and stakeholders, building operational capability for drone-based agriculture and survey applications under regulatory frameworks.
• GI Tag Facilitation Service A technology-transfer and advisory service that assists agricultural producers in registering for Geographical Indication (GI) tags, helping secure premium market positioning and protect regional produce identities.
• Natural Farming Education and Training Programme An education and training programme on natural farming practices delivered through seminars and field activities, targeted at farmers, students, and extension workers seeking sustainable and chemical-free cultivation methods.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15% reduction in labour costs (Rs 2,500 per hectare)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Society of Extension Education (INSEE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 June 2026RPCAU collaborated with INSEE to organize a national conference in Patna on redefining women's role in agri-food systems. The conference attracted over 300 delegates including agricultural scientists, policymakers and grassroots innovators, focusing on sustainable agricultural development and equal access to mechanisation, digital advisories and global markets.
• ISRO's Space Applications CentrecoreTechnology or Integration · 5 January 2026RPCAU partnered with ISRO's Space Applications Centre to develop a climate-smart agricultural model and carbon budget map for Bihar. An Eddy Covariance tower was installed to gather real-time data on carbon footprint, water vapor emissions, and heat flux, with findings already applied by 200 farmers in Samastipur and Muzaffarpur districts.
• Great Mission Consultancy GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRPCAU partnered with Great Mission Consultancy Group to identify and register more agricultural products for GI tags through DNA profiling and Farmer Producer Organisations. The university recently facilitated the GI tag for Marcha rice from West Champaran through this partnership.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): Umbrella apex body governing agricultural research, education, and extension in India. Comparable as the overarching institutional framework under which RPCAU operates, with far broader national scope and funding base.

Direct peers

• Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU): State agricultural university with strong research output, technology transfer, and farmer extension. Directly comparable to RPCAU in operating model and product portfolio breadth across crops, mechanization, and digital agriculture.
• Punjab Agricultural University (PAU): Long-established state agricultural university with teaching, research, and extension mandate. Comparable to RPCAU in producing crop varieties, mechanization innovations, and farmer advisory services in a regional context.
• G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology: Public state agricultural university combining teaching, research, and extension. Comparable to RPCAU in institutional form, multi-disciplinary agricultural research, and farmer outreach through KVKs.
• Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (HAU): Public agricultural university with strong extension mandate and applied research. Comparable to RPCAU in focusing on smallholder farmer outcomes, mechanization, and crop improvement.
• Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU): Large Indian state agricultural university with integrated teaching, research, and extension across multiple crops and regions. Comparable in institutional scope, KVK-style extension services, and applied ag-innovation output.
• ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI): India's premier central agricultural research institute under ICAR. Directly comparable as a public agricultural research and education institution with national mandate, R&D output, and extension programs — RPCAU operates in the same institutional category.

Others

• ISRO Space Applications Centre (SAC): Partner institution enabling RPCAU's Eddy Covariance tower and climate-smart agriculture work. Relevant as an ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor; both apply remote sensing and data-driven approaches to agricultural decision support.

Emerging players

• Cropin Technology: Agtech platform combining AI, satellite, and IoT for farm intelligence. Comparable to RPCAU's digital agriculture initiatives in deploying predictive analytics and farm-level decision support, but as a commercial SaaS rather than a public R&D institution.
• Fasal: Indian agtech startup offering IoT and AI-based farm advisory — the underlying SaaS platform RPCAU deploys at its model village. Comparable in digital agriculture solution space, though operating as a private commercial vendor versus RPCAU's research-led deployment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Rpcau_pusa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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