The major research work is being carried out under the overall guidance of Directorate of Research on various Agricultural Research Stations, sub-stations and college campuses spread over ten agro-climatic zones. The Directorate of Research at Bikaner plays an effective role in achieving the desired research goals, augmenting resource mobilization and maintaining a close liaison with the line departments of the State, ICAR and other R&D organizations of the country. The Director of Research is responsible for planning, co-ordinating, monitoring and evaluating need based production oriented agricultural research, both basic and applied, at the research stations and sub-stations as well as the teaching campuses.

To provide a systematic and coordinated approach to agricultural research, Agricultural Experiment Station (now named Directorate of Research) was established at Udaipur under the then University of Udaipur in 1964. All the research stations except the research units under the canal command areas which were under the control of Government of Rajasthan were transferred by the Department of Agriculture, Government of Rajasthan to the University in 1976. The Agricultural Experiment Station was renamed as Directorate of Agriculture and was shifted to Jaipur in 1981 and with the establishment of Rajasthan Agricultural University with its headquarters at Bikaner in 1987, the Directorate of Research was shifted to Bikaner in 1992.

The Directorate of Research, headed by the Director Research has a team of scientists drawn from different disciplines to assist Director Research in planning, coordinating, monitoring and evaluating the research, both basic and applied, being conducted at various research units in the state. The research is being carried out in seven agro climatic zones at seven agricultural research stations and seven agricultural research sub stations. The research activities of the zone are coordinated by the Associate Director Research at the research stations. Besides these research stations, research work being carried out by the research personnel at the teaching campuses is also under the technical control of Directorate. In addition to research, the Directorate is also engaged in seed production at the research stations and its two Mechanised Agricultural Farms at Rozari (Sri Ganganagar) and Khara (Bikaner). These farms are being supervised by the Associate Director (Germplasm Production).

The mandate of the Directorate of Research is

1) To plan, coordinate and monitor the need based agricultural research
2)To develop appropriate technology for optimal use of resources in a sustainable manner for economic
upliftment of the farmers
3)To coordinate and monitor the seed production programme
4)To develop linkages with national and international organisations for research
5)To extend consultancy and expertise

The major research work is being carried out under the overall guidance of Director of Research at on various Agricultural Research Stations, sub-stations and college campuses spread over the seven agro-climatic zones. The Directorate of Research at Bikaner plays an effective role in achieving the desired research goals, augmenting resource mobilization and maintaining a close liaison with the line departments of the State, ICAR and other R&D organizations of the country. The Director of Research is responsible for planning, co-ordinating, monitoring and evaluating need based production oriented agricultural research, both basic and applied, at the research stations and sub-stations as well as the teaching campuses.

The RAU scientists have contributed immensely by evolving many high yield potential varieties of crops which have become popular even in other states. Some of the important varieties/hybrids developed during the last two years include RMO 225 of Mothbean, Ganga 8 and RMG 344 of Mungbean, RC 101 of Cowpea, RD 2552 of Barley, RT 127 of Seseame and HNG 10 of Groundnut.

Agricultural technology in other fields, namely, crop production and protection, arid horticulture and soil science has also been developed to the farmers' benefit and to boost agricultural production. This has helped in keeping pace with the ever increasing demand of food grain production to match the population pressure. RAU also undertakes breeder seed production to contribute towards production of certified seed of improved varieties of crops to meet the farmers' demand for seed. Towards this end, production programme for truthfully labelled seed is also being carried out. RAU scientists have been praised for their endeavour of making truthfully labelled seed available to the farmers. The activity is gaining multiplier effect to benefit farmers of the State.

A number of All India Co-ordinated Projects are operating at the seven Agricultural Research Stations under RAU. The major emphasis under these projects is on development of high yielding varieties having resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Recently, several research projects focussed on natural resource management and improving yield ceilings in crops have been sanctioned under the National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) of the ICAR and are operating at different research stations.

RAU has also undertaken collaborative research projects with international institutes and organizations like International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad and ACIAR (Australian Council for International Agricultural Research), Australia. A research project on white grub in collaboration with ACIAR, Australia is operating at ARS, Durgapura. Another research project on drought resistance in groundnut under ACIAR-ICRISAT collaboration is also operating at ARS, Durgapura.

Recently, in July, 2000, RAU has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for undertaking research programmes involving use of nuclear techniques in agriculture and allied sciences with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay and Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences, Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India. A Radio-tracer laboratory is being established at Bikaner to provide facilities for the research programmes on micro-nutrient requirements of crops and monitoring of pesticide residues in soil-plant systems. Other programmes with use of nuclear techniques are being developed by RAU scientists for collaborative research.

In the whole of Rajasthan, in general and in western part of the state, in particular, the livestock component forms a very important part of lifestyle of its inhabitants and is the mainstay for earning their livelihood. This is further substantiated by the fact that the state accounts for about 13 per cent of milk, 30 per cent of meat and 40 per cent of the wool produce of the country.

Looking towards the contribution of animal husbandry sector in the state economy (about 13%) a separate Directorate of Research (Veterinary and Animal Science) is functioning at Bikaner to plan, co-ordinate and initiate the production oriented research programme in the field of veterinary and animal science and also to establish a close liaison with the state and other departments of animal husbandry, sheep and wool, fisheries and dairy federation.

The Veterinary and Animal Science Research Programmes are being pursued at two constituent campuses of the University viz., College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner and SKN College of Agriculture, Jobner (Jaipur) and on three Livestock Research Stations, namely, LRS, Chandan (Jaisalmer), LRS, Biknaer and LRS, Nohar (Hanumangarh).

Through its research activities, the Directorate of Veterinary and Animal Science Research has been able to conserve the high potential indigenous germplasm i.e., Rathi, Tharparkar cattle and Surti buffalo breeds at various Livestock Research Stations, disseminate improved germplasm, improve the productive and reproductive efficiency, include Magra sheep and Marwari goat in the farmers' flock for wool and meat production, advanced techniques of Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer Technology (ETT) to preserve best indigenous germplasm in arid zone, develop fatigue scorecard for camel for efficient energy utilization and create Apex Centres for catering to the needs of referral laboratory for field veterinarians.

At College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Bikaner the research work on animal biotechnology and embryo transfer technology has been started and a female calf was born through ETT in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.