Accomplishments
Crop Improvement
Research work in crop improvement has led to the development and
release of 75 high yielding varieties of 17 crops.
Of these, 45 have been released at state level for Uttarakhand state, 28
for the North Western Himalayan states (the mandate area of the institute) while 2 at
national level for regions beyond the mandate area.
In addition, the Division is set to achieve two more national releases
as these have already been identified by ICAR’s Varietal Identification
Committee. These are, VL Gehun 832
for high altitude areas of Northern Hill Zone and VL Garlic 1 for Uttarakhand,
Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Punjab. The
most important accomplishments are listed hereunder:
-
Release
of first hybrid maize variety VL 54 in the country.
-
Release
of first hybrid onion variety in the country VL 67 for Uttarakhand and
plains.
-
Combining
winter and spring wheat genes to develop and release first early sown dual
purpose facultative variety VL Gehun 616 in the country for hills.
-
Release
of first awnless wheat variety VL Gehun 738 in the country offering
protection against hail storm damage
at the time of harvest in hills.
-
Release
of first ever extra-early dual purpose (grain and baby corn) double cross
maize hybrid variety VL Makka 42 at national level.
-
Release
of first extra-early double top cross maize hybrid variety Him 129 at
national level.
-
Release
of VL Mandua 149, a blast resistant variety of finger millet across the
country.
-
Release
of spring rice variety VL Dhan 206, which has replaced local cultivars in
substantial area in Uttarakhand.
-
First
short duration direct seeded rice variety, VL Dhan 221 for double cropping
under rainfed upland June-sown conditions
in hills of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
-
Higher
income generation by crop diversification through release of soybean variety
of VL Soya 2 in hills.
-
Release
of two high value crop varieties VL Rajma 63 in rajmash and VL Bauni Bean 1
in French bean which have gained popularity
over a wide range of environments in hills and plains.
-
Short
duration garden pea variety, VL Ageti Matar 7 suitable for hills as well as
plains as a better alternative by virtue of its being 5-7 days earlier and
10-15% higher yielder than Arkel.
-
First
open pollinated synthetic onion variety VL Piaz 3 for Uttarakhand.
-
First
released variety of buckwheat, VL Ugal 7 for Uttarakhand.
Seed
Production
More than 865 q truthfully-labelled seed has been produced during 1986 to
2002.
In addition, about 1720 q breeder and 115 q nucleus seed of various improved
varieties were produced during 1986-2002. As a result, high yielding varieties
such as VL Gehun 616 and VL Gehun 738 in wheat, VL Makka 16 and VL Makka 42
in maize, VL Dhan 206 and VL Dhan 221 in rice, VL
Soya 2 and VL Soya 21 in soybean, VL Ageti Matar 7 in garden pea have become popular in several
states of the country, particularly in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim
, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
Genetic
Resources
More than 6,000 native and exotic collections of 23 different field crops
have been evaluated and these have been utilized directly and indirectly in different
crop improvement programmes. As a
result, 19 varieties in 11 crops have been developed by direct use of native and
exotic germplasm while other four varieties have been developed through
recombination breeding.
Crop
Physiology
Fundamental physiological research, undertaken in the beginning, indicated
that vernalization induced the activity of various enzymes, e.g., diastase,
catalase and amylase, enhanced the level of protein and IAA, induced early
flowering and enhance yield in wheat, mustard and barley.
The research work on applied plant physiology revealed that bolting in
onion can be reduced by soaking of the seedlings in borax and vernalization can
be successfully used for inducing synchronization in flowering.
Application of ZnSO4 in
maize, MgSO4 in soybean and borax in pea increase their grain
yield significantly. The foliar
spray of salicylic acid alone or in combination with phytohormones, such as NAA,
GA and etheral, induces earliness and enhances the number of floral buds and
total yield by 10-15% in leguminous crops like pea and soybean.
More than 4,000 genotypes of various crops have
been evaluated for drought and cold tolerance, seed dormancy and
photosynthesis.
Biotechnology
Marker Assisted
Selection for Quality Protein Maize
Maize endosperm consisting of approximately 9-12% protein is, however, deficient in two essential
amino acids viz., lysine
and tryptophan. The low nutritive value of maize is genetically corrected and the
biofortified form known as Quality Protein Maize (QPM), which contains twice the
amount of lysine and tryptophan coupled with high protein biological value. The
opaque-2 gene along with necessary modifiers is primarily responsible for
the enhanced protein quality. Development of QPM germplasm through conventional
plant breeding methods requires enormous time, labor and spatial resources since
the opaque-2 gene is recessive in nature and modifiers behave as
multigenic trait. DNA-based markers hold great promise in augmenting the pace of
conventional breeding procedures. The current research efforts at VPKAS intend
to convert normal maize hybrids into QPM using SSR (Simple Sequence Repeats)
markers viz., phi057, phi112 and umc1066, which are located as internal
repetitive sequences within opaque-2 gene. The marker assisted breeding
strategy being developed at this institute obviates the need for selfing after
every back cross and thus reduces the total breeding duration by one half and
proves to be simple, resource-efficient and cost-effective.
Marker Aided Pyramiding of Blast resistance
Genes in Hill Rice
Deployment of host resistance is by far the most
effective means of controlling rice blast caused by the fungal pathogen,
Magnaporthe grisea. Gene pyramiding, which refers to the combining of two or
more major genes for resistance in a single plant genotype is one of the novel
strategies to increase durability of resistance. A molecular breeding program
with blast resistance as its principal objective is being structured so that major genes like Pi-1, Pi-2 & Pi-9 are combined
to exclude the known lineages in the target region.
Mapping Genes/ QTLs for Blast Resistance in
Hill Rice
Mapping of genes/QTLs conferring resistance to Rice blast in VL 95-6394, a national blast
resistance donor is in progress. A cross was made between VL 95-6394 and VL 206, a popular but
susceptible genotype. Bulk segregant analysis carried out using RAPD and ISSR
markers revealed association between few markers and blast
resistance/susceptibility in VL 95-6394/VL 206. Simultaneously, a QTL mapping
experiment is also being undertaken to map partial resistance in the same cross.
An F2:3 mapping population has been raised and phenotyping completed
at three locations in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir- the
hot spots for rice blast pathogen, Magnaporthe grisea. Genotyping of the
mapping population is being carried out employing Rice SSRs.
DNA fingerprinting of Magnaporthe grisea and
Helminthosporium turcicum
An understanding of the
structure and dynamics of the pathogen population is essential for prudent
implementation of strategies for disease management. Keeping this in view, the
institute has taken up pathogen characterization of the two most important diseases in the
region, Rice blast and Northern corn leaf blight (NCLB) in maize.
Isolates of Magnaporthe
grisea (M. grisea) causing rice blast
and H. turcicum causing NCLB in maize were collected from various
locations in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. RAPD and ISSR
markers are being used for fingerprinting of the isolates of both these
pathogens. In addition to this, for fingerprinting of M. grisea, a species-specific Pot element is also employed. The
fingerprinting data is further utilised for clustering of the isolates into
different groups/lineages. In case of Rice blast, the pathogenicity tests are
being undertaken using the NILs having specific Pi genes to work out the
combination of genes that can exclude all lineages present, and thus provide
durable resistance to blast disease.
Molecular Diversity Analysis in Winter Wheat
Germplasm
VPKAS houses a large collection of winter wheat
germplasm, which is being hailed as repository of useful genes. The wheat
research program of the institute lays emphasis on exploiting the heterosis
through winter X spring wheat hybridization. The grouping of the winter and
spring wheat germplasm based on molecular diversity pattern would aid the
breeders in efficient selection of parents. The current research efforts aim at
exploring the wheat genome through RAPD and SSR markers and clustering based on
DNA finger printing data.
Genetic
Engineering for Augmenting Starch Biosynthesis
Starch forms a major constituent of cereal
seeds. Starch synthesis is regulated by the activation and expression of genes
especially ADP-Glucose Pyrophosphorylase (AGP), starch synthase and branching
enzymes. The formation of reserved starch is regulated by the level of AGP enzyme.
The transfer of a mutant AGP gene insensitive to allosteric inhibition is likely to
increase reserved starch content in the storage tissue of a plant. The present
research efforts are directed towards introducing modified AGP genes in rice,
which is the major staple food of the region.
Crop Management
Suitable package of practices including optimum sowing
time, fertilizer dose, seed rate, spacing, sowing methods and weed management for
the major crops of the
region have been standardized with due emphasis on rainfed agriculture and development of
low input technology.
More remunerative intercropping and
multiple cropping
sequences have also been identified. Production technology of Baby Corn
as high value vegetable crop has been
developed.
Farmers'
practice of high density nursery (300 – 350 g/m2 nursery) and
transplanting 4 –5 seedlings at 10 x 10 cm spacing gives 41 q/ha grain
yield. This can be significantly improved by recommended practice of nursery,
(seeding 60 g/m2) and transplanting (2 seedlings at 20 x 10 cm
spacing) which results in production of 53 q/ha rice. Under delayed conditions, seedlings of VL 62
(a semi tall variety) could be transplanted up to 60 days age, which avoids delayed
maturity. The ideal transplanting time is 3rd week of June, using 45
days old seedlings.
Application of 40 kg N/ha is the
best to realize the potential yield of finger millet varieties (VL 146, VL 149)
and barnyard millet varieties (VL 21, VL 29, VL 172, and VL 181).
Reduction in grain yield due to cutting of
fodder in dual purpose wheat, VL 616 (green fodder + grain) could be offset by
increasing the seed rate by 20 kg
seed/ha, and applying additional 30 kg N/ha.
Kudzu (Pureria thumbergiana), grown on waste lands, has been found to supply maximum biomass and
nutrient for manuring.
Optimum population of soybean for higher yield is 0.3 million plants/ha, (22 q/ha) which
is 2.9 and 26.8 per cent higher
than the yield obtained under the population of 0.45 and 0.6 millions plants/ha, respectively. The higher green pod yield
of garden pea can be obtained with the application of poultry manure @ 5 t/ha
(176 q/ha). Application of 100 kg N along with FYM @ 20 t/ha has been found to
be the best to realize the potential yield of okra (VL Bhindi 1). Planting of okra at the
spacing 45 x 150 cm spacing is most suitable giving an yield of 244 q/ha.
Weed control is essential for
realizing production potential and imparting
profitability in the field crops. In
addition, the use of herbicides helps in reducing the drudgery of the women. Pre-emergence application of isoproturon 0.5 kg a.i./ha
mixed with 1% CaSO4 solution is effective in weed control and
production of finger millet (17 q/ha). Soybean production (21 q/ha) similar
to 2 hand weeding can be obtained by pre-plant soil incorporation of new
herbicide-squadron @ 2.0 litre/ha. In hybrid tomato and garden pea, imposition of
weed management from 45 – 60 days and 30 – 90 days period is crucial for
realizing their potential yield.
Cropping
Systems
Intercropping
Intercropping of finger
millet (transplanted) + pigeon pea in the row ratio of 4:1 is better in
terms of finger millet equivalent yield (66 q/ha), net returns (Rs.
20 thousand/ha) and LER (1.26) under rainfed condition. Intercropping of groundnut
in pigeon pea in 1:1 ratio gives the highest pigeon pea equivalent yield (46 q/ha) and LER (1.4) followed by
pigeon pea paired row + 1 row groundnut (45 q/ha)
and LER (1.35). Sole pigeon pea resulted 30 q/ha yield.
Fallow Management
In traditional spring rice – wheat – finger millet –
fallow and barnyard millet – wheat – finger millet – fallow, the fallow period
can be replaced by cultivation of toria/lentil under rainfed
condition. In traditionally
cultivated transplanted rice-fallow-potato cropping system under valley areas,
the fallow period can be replaced by toria/radish/cabbage under irrigated
condition.
Relay Cropping
Relay intercropping of potato (one row) within
paired rows of maize and two rows of potato in between two paired rows of maize
(40/80 cm) recorded highest maize equivalent yield (220 q/ha), gross return (Rs.110 thousand/ha), net returns
(Rs. 50 thousand/ha), BC ratio (1.83) and LER
(1.98). Relay intercropping of hybrid tomato in maize in the row ratio of 1:1 could be
another option providing higher production of 525q/ha (maize equivalent)
and net returns (Rs. 200 thousands/ ha) with LER of 1.89.
Soil
Management
Carbon balance
Improved biomass recycling maintains long term soil
productivity. The root biomass content of rice, soybean, barnyard and finger
millet ranges from 35 to 46 % of total biomass. In the mid hills, soybean can
add 2.9 t root biomass followed by finger millet (2.6 t/ha) and barnyard millet (2
t/ha) compared to only 1.5 t / ha from rice and maize, respectively.
Long term fertility management
Soil productivity could be improved by
application of 20:80:40 kg N:P:K + 10 t FYM/ha (to soybean only) in soybean –
wheat sequence in rainfed condition. It produces 30 q soybean and 20 q/ ha wheat
as compared to 26 and 16 q/ha respectively, 30 years ago. This nutrient management
results in improvement in bulk density (from 1.51 to 1.33 Mg/m3) and
nutrient cycling (2000 kg C and 99 kg N / ha/yr).
Organic farming
Organic source of nutrients (FYM) is superior to
fertilizers at higher level (of 15 and 20 t/ha) resulting 32 and 34 q/ha of
VL Basmati – 2 rice. Comparatively, the NPK fertilizers at lower doses
(equivalent to 5 and 10 t FYM / ha) result 30 and 33 q / ha rice yield.
Fertilizer use at higher doses results in higher incidence of blast and stem borer.
Tillage
Reduced tillage can be adopted without affecting productivity on a short term
basis (2 years). It results in cost reduction, improved soil organic matter and
water retention. Soybean-lentil and soybean-wheat are better options under
reduced tillage.
Water Management
Technology for storing surplus water in
polythene-lined tanks has been standardized. It is not only cheaper than
cement tanks but is also superior for this earthquake-prone zone. Three LDPE films-lined tanks (capacity 2.8
m3 )
were compared using different lining materials. The storage capacity increases by 13 % in case of
tarfelt lining followed by 8% in case of Khas Khas grass
as compared to the stone pitching.
Crop water use and moisture extraction pattern of
important kharif and rabi
crops under rainfed condition have been determined. Irrigation schedules based on IW/CPE, for rice, wheat and vegetables
have been worked out to achieve high water use efficiency. Information on drip
irrigation in tomato has also been generated. In
situ and ex-situ mulches
have been tried for moisture conservation.
Wheat variety, VL 421 shows better relationship with water expense than VL 719
and VL 738. The significant highest fruit yield (38.12 t/ha)
of summer squash was obtained at IW/CPE
0.6 irrigation applied through drip as compared to all other check basin
irrigation treatments (IW/CPE equal to 0.4, 0.8 and 1.2). Hydrological
behavior in N-W Himalayas indicates that soil erosion is higher in pine sub
watershed followed by agriculture and mixed sub-watershed. Sediment load in
runoff varies from 1.9 g to 5.2 g/l. Higher soil erosion is related to absence
of ground cover.
Fodder
Production
Suitable grasses and legumes
have been identified and their management practices developed for
improving the fodder productivity of native grasslands. Production technology of dual purpose crops (wheat, barley and oat) for
grain and green fodder as well as different cultivated fodders have been
developed. Two
winter grasses, viz., tall fescue and
perennial rye have been found promising
under rainfed condition. On steep sloping lands, planting of fuel-cum-fodder trees ( Quercus leucotriphophora, Grewia optiva, Morus
alba) by improved pit technique shows better establishment
and faster growth and reduced erosion than the traditional pit planting.
Turmeric and ginger can be successfully grown under fodder trees in silvi-horti
system.
On field terrace risers, Pennisetum purepureum (hybrid
napier) is the most effective fodder grass.
Protected
Cultivation
Low
cost polyhouse technology has been developed for protected cultivation. Crops and
seedlings can successfully be grown during winter in the poly houses,
which is, otherwise, not possible out side due to prevailing low temperature. Package and
practices for growing vegetables under low cost polyhouse have been developed and
standardized.
Quonset type G.I.-based polyhouse (dimension - 10 x 4.0 x 2.25 m) have been
evaluated for off-season vegetable cultivation. Fan and pad cooled polyhouses
(with controlled climatic parameters like temperature and humidity) is better
than naturally ventilated polyhouse. Tomato (Manisha) and vegetable
pea (VL Ageti matar 7) can be successfully grown in these polyhouses.
Bamboo-based polyhouse (even span dimension - 7.5 x 4.0 x 2.6 m) has been
constructed at farmers' field. The cost of bamboo-based polyhouse and
G.I.-based polyhouse is Rs.3,150.00 and Rs.12,500.00 for floor area of 30 and 45
sq.m. respectively. MS angle-based polyhouses constructed in participatory mode
have been well accepted by the farmers. Some of the polyhouse are being used for
geranium cultivation whereas others are utilized for growing high value crops.
Post Harvest Technology
Fruits and vegetables are some of the
most important
commercial crops in hill farming, however, they normally face 10 to > 20 %
losses which adversely affects the income. Finger and barnyard millets are
important cereal crops of the hills. Threshing of these crops is a lengthy and
tedious process and it causes severe drudgery to the farm women. A highly
efficient finger millet and barnyard millet thresher with > 98% threshing
efficiency and with > 90% pearling efficiency has successfully been designed
and developed. This thresher has been well-received by the cultivators as well
as the development agencies. Prototype of this thresher is being provided to all
the blocks of Almora districts in collaboration with Government of Uttarakhand .
Crop Protection
The main thrust of crop protection research is to reduce the crop
yield losses by management of diseases and insect-pests. Additionally, the aim
is environmental protection by developing environmentally safe and sound methods
of management. Thus, promote biological control with specific agents, organic
amendments, cultural practices and enhanced varietal resistance.
Disease and Insect Scenario
 |
Zonate leaf spot of maize caused by Gleocercspora
sorghi was recorded for the first time in Uttarakhand in 2008. |
Zonate leaf spot of maize |
|
|
Turcicum blight in maize, blast and brown spot in rice, blast
in finger millet, yellow and brown rusts in wheat are the important diseases
in cereals. |
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Frogeye leaf spot of soybean, tikka disease of
groundnut, Alternaria leaf spot of toria are the major diseases of oilseeds. |
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Among pulse crops, wilt and root rot in lentil, root rot in
rajmash and anthracnose in horse gram appear in moderate intensities. |
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|
Purple blotch in onion and garlic, early blight, bacterial
wilt, buckeye rot in tomato, powdery mildew and wilt in pea, root rot and
black rot in cauliflower, angular leaf spot and rust in French bean,
bacterial wilt and anthracnose in capsicum are important diseases of
vegetables. |
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White grub, a polyphagous pest, which
devastates a number of rainfed kharif crops, is the most menacing
insect of the region and nearly 75 species of this insect have been recorded
in Uttarakhand.
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BPH infestation - Hopper burn |
|
|
Severe infestation of brown plant
hopper (BPH) was observed in some of the rice growing areas of Uttarakhand
during Kharif 2010. Nymphs and adults are seen congregated at the base of
the plant and suck the sap. Matured plants were found drying in circular
patches. |
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|
In addition, stem borer and leaf folder in rice and small millets, hairy
caterpillar and sucking bug in soybean, leaf miner in garden pea, pod borer
in pea and gram, fruit borer in tomato, blister beetle in beans and pigeon
pea are other major pests.
|
Crop
Loss
Assessment
Losses caused by major
diseases and insects to important crops vary from slight to severe depending on
the crop/variety and prevailing climatic conditions. Major pests, like blast and
stem borer caused up to 65% and 52% losses, respectively in rice, stripe disease
up to 72% in barley, white rot up to 58% in pea, buck eye rot up to 80% in
tomato, anthracnose and frog eye leaf spot (combined) up to 20% in
soybean and white grub up to 80% in rainfed rice.
Epidemiological Studies
Studies revealed that the temperature of 20-280C combined with RH >
80% is best suited for the development of Exserohilum turcicum in maize (Turcicum
leaf blight) whereas minimum temperature of 15-200C along with higher
number of days with RH >90% are contributory factors for the development of
blast disease in rice. July to September provide the most congenial environment
for the development of these diseases.
Management of Diseases
Management technologies have been evolved for major diseases
in important crops with emphasis on evaluation of germplasm for resistance
against important pathogens and insects, manipulation of cultural practices, use
of locally available plant part extracts and the need-based application of
pesticides.
Identification of resistant sources
More than 70,000 genotypes evaluated in various pathological nurseries of
different important hill crops. Efficient
techniques have been standardized for creating artificial epiphytotics for
blast in rice, turcicum blight in maize, rusts and loose smut in
wheat to identify donors. Several entries possessing resistance to rust and
blast in wheat and rice respectively have been identified. Entries showing slow blasting response have
also been identified in rice . Disease resistant/tolerant genotypes have been identified
against smut in wheat and barnyard millet, blast in finger millet, leaf blight
in maize, frog eye leaf spot in
soybean, powdery mildew in pea and viral diseases
in different crops. NS 879/4, a Yugoslavian wheat accession shows BYDV
resistance.
Resistant/tolerant sources have also been identified for major insects,
like stem borer and leaf folder in rice.
Genetic Stocks Registered
VL
798 (Reg. No. INGR 03007, IC 296431) Wheat - an immune stock to hill bunt
disease, VL 639 (Reg. No. INGR 03011, IC 296480) Wheat - a resistant stock to
loose smut have been registered with NBPGR. VSR 8 (Reg. No. INGR06002, IC546941)
Rice - a source of blast resistance have been registered with NBPGR, New Delhi.
Chemical
control measures
Fungicides have been identified for the management of major diseases of
various crops - mancozeb (0.25%) for management of leaf blight in wheat and maize, brown spot in rice and purple
blotch in garlic; propiconazole (0.05%) for rust and leaf diseases in
barley and wheat; ediphenphos (0.1%), carbendazim (0.1%) or tricyclazole
(0.06%) for blast
and copper oxychloride (0.3%) for false smut in rice; carbendazim (0.1%) for smut in barnyard
millet and for leaf spots of soybean, black gram, green gram and groundnut; and
copper oxychloride (0.3%)/mancozeb (0.25%) along with mechanical staking for management of buck
eye rot of tomato have been found effective.
Identification of alternative control measures
Environment polluting pesticides can be effectively replaced, wherever possible,
by alternatives, like bio-pesticides and botanicals. Disease management
technology using biocontrol agents and cultural management has been
developed.
Management of Insects
 |
Melia azedarach (Batain) seed
kernel extract 10% was found to be effective against sucking bugs of French
bean and soybean. Batain powder is used for the management of cutworms in
chilies. Chemical insecticide, flubendiamide is found effective against pink
borer, Sesamia inferens in rice. Deltamethrin is effective against
blister beetles in pigeon pea and indoxacarb against Spodoptera litura
in chili and tomato. |
|
|
Diaretiella
rapae
is found to parasitize cabbage aphids, Brevicoryne brassicae to an
extent of 8.4 to 12.6% in the field. Campoletis chlorideae is the
major parasitoid of borer, Helicoverpa armigera in field conditions.
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VL White grub Beetle Trap-1, an
efficient and eco-friendly light based insect trap is found very effective
in attracting and trapping Scarabaeid beetles. Beetles were trapped from
second fortnight of May to September with a peak period of July. Anomala
dimidiata is the predominant species followed by Holotrichia
longipennis and H. seticollis. |
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|
The microbial pathogens associated
with diseased white grubs have been isolated and tested against white
grubs. A bacterium, Bacillus cereus strain WGPSB2 is found
very effective against white grubs and thus mass multiplied, formulated in
talc and used in white grub management. It is recommended to mix the talc
based bacterial formulation in farmyard manure and subsequently in the
fields. |
Statistics
and Computer Applications
An empirical formula
has been developed for estimation of
pan evaporation using only minimum and maximum temperatures which has
satisfactory level of accuracy (R2 ranging from 0.76 to 0.86).
Computer programs
have been developed for design and
analysis of field experiments, data entry, univariate and multivariate
statistical analyses, genetic analysis, matrix algebra and mathematical
analysis.
Studies on major crops and
forest grasslands show that the fertility gradient, in general, is along the
slope and, therefore, the experimental plots should be narrow across the slope
and long along the slope of experimental field.
Studies with empirical and simulated data reveals
that nonconformity to the underlying assumptions for a valid data analysis is
the cause behind inadmissible value of genetic correlation coefficient, i.e.,
either r < -1 or r > 1.
Computer generated data on length of dry spell and
number of dry days in a month revealed redundancy of power transformation used
for normalization of data for planning supplementary irrigation.
Major contributing ancillary characters have been identified for pre-harvest forecasting of wheat and soybean yields.
In a study of maximum rainfall in a year on a single day for 35 years rainfall
data, Gumbel distribution was found to give the best fit.
Database creation for North-Western Himalayas is underway. At present it
contains agricultural and demographic data.
Tables,
forms and queries were developed for data entry, editing, storage, searching and
retrieval for database consisting of 482-paddy
germplasm with 42 characters, 103 pea germplasm with 33 characters, 258 maize
germplasm with 52 characters, 350 wheat germplasm with 33 characters and 78
Finger millet germplasm with 15 characters.
Agricultural Economics
A survey
of the economics of
off-season vegetables indicates that producer receives very little of the
consumer pays for the produce and major share is siphoned to the middle-men in
the prevailing marketing system. Therefore, keeping farmers and consumers
interest in mind, farmers should develop their own marketing system, e.g., by
forming a cooperative society.
A linear
regression model has been developed relating soybean yield and different inputs.
Total holding size and quantity of compost
used are the most important variables related to yield.
Impact
study of improved agricultural
technology on labor absorption in mid-hills shows that spring rice-wheat-maize-toria (two years)
is the most and maize-pea (one year) is the
least labor-intensive
cropping sequences.
The growing importance of
vegetables as cash crop in India
is apparent from the increased vegetable area in almost all
states during 1990-91 and 1998-99. In NW Himalayan hills, Uttar Pradesh hills (presently
Uttarakhand
hills) has shown
tremendous increase area (from 57.06 to 91.5 thousand
hectares). In Himachal Pradesh, increase is moderate (38.7 thousand hectares to
45.80 thousand hectares), whereas the area under vegetables actually declined
from 180.3 thousand hectares to 41.20 thousand hectares in Jammu & Kashmir. The same scenario
exists in vegetable production.
In Uttarakhand hills, the production level has risen from 617.6 to 840.7 thousand
t. In Himachal
Pradesh the production level rose from 476 to 606.4 thousand t, whereas, in
J&K the vegetable production has declined from 745 to 607 thousand t.
Preliminary survey reveals that, the common market
channels for vegetables, produced in the hills are
producer-contractor-commission agent (CA)-retailer-consumer
and producer-commission agent (CA)-retailer-consumer.
Transfer
of Technology
The 'Transfer of Technology Programme'
of the institute has undergone many changes in the past in terms of its
structure, methodology and approach. Such changes are the result of ongoing
experience and the need of the time. Over 5,000 demonstrations on different improved
agricultural technologies, in about 1500 ha area, were conducted in farmers’
fields in 18 villages of district Almora. Benchmark surveys of these villages
have shown that the productivity can be enhanced by 150 - 200% by adopting
improved technologies. At present, each year over 400 demonstrations on different
improved technologies are conducted at the farmers' fields under different
extension related programmes. Among the technologies demonstrated, improved
varieties, chemical weed control, line sowing and fertilizer
application are the most popular.
The institute organizes "farmers' fairs" and "field days" at the institute/farmers'
fields for better interaction between scientists and farmers. For quick and
wider transfer of technology, scientists deliver radio talks on
specific topics and the institute participates in different exhibitions and fairs in
the region. Extension literatures on improved package of practices
for various crops have been prepared and updated in Hindi for the benefit of
hill farmers. Farmers are provided with the solutions to the
problems posed by them through “Krishak help Line Service” of the institute
(( 05962-231115) on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during 16:00-17:00 hr.
Training programs for hill farmers, officials of
state government and voluntary organizations are organized.
In this year (2003), about 300 nominees of Uttarakhand Government have been
imparted training
so
far, covering various aspects of hill agriculture,
through six training programmes.
"Jansampark
Diwas" is celebrated on every
year on 4th July (the foundation day of the
institute), for propagating achievements of our Institute
Constraint analysis for non-adoption of improved agriculture practices
indicates that small and scattered land holdings, non availability
of inputs like seeds, fertilizers and plant protection are the major constraints for non adoption of improved technologies in hills.
Under IVLP-TAR, interventions of high yielding
varieties (including spring rice VL 206 and dual purpose wheat VL 616), use of seed
drill for better germination and establishment of crops, reduction in the drudgery
of women through use of herbicides for weed control (e.g., isoproturon for
Ranunculus), and fallow
management by inclusion of crops, like toria, lentil and radish, are the most widely
accepted in adopted villages of Purora, Phulwari Gunth and
Tallihat, in Baijnath block, District Bageshwar
Dr. H.S. Gupta receiving the coveted 'Sardar Patel Outstanding ICAR
Institution Award 2000' from Hon'ble Union Minister for Agriculture and
Railways, Mr. Nitish Kumar, on July 16, 2001.
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