The Agricultural Research Station was started in the year 1944
as a testing center for wheat. Later on, gram testing programme
was added in the year of 1977 with some additional staff. In
earlier days, objective was to evolve drought tolerant crop
varieties and dry farming practices suitable for this region.
Later on in December 1979, National Agricultural Research
Project came into existence with the help and aid provided by
International Development Association (IDA) in affiliation with
the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
with sole objective to improve crop productivity of salt
affected soil under erratic pattern of rainfall and harsh
climatic conditions. The research work at this NARP center is
covered under various disciplines such as, (1) Soil Science and
Agricultural Chemistry, (2) Agronomy (3) Plant Breeding, (4)
Entomology, (5) Plant Pathology, (6) Agricultural Extension, (7)
Agricultural Engineering and (8) Plant Physiology. Since the
post of Physiology has been withdrawn from the center so as
research work on Plant Physiology is not carried out at present,
the sole objective was to find out solution to various crop
productions related constraints of the Bhal and Coastal Zone
through multidisciplinary location specific research. This
station was the Head quarter of the Bhal and Coastal
Agro-climatic Zone i.e. Zone VIII of the state with two
sub-centers viz; Agricultural Research Station, Dhandhuka and
Dry farming Research Station, Vallabhipur, which were conducting
research work mainly as supporting and testing centers on the
need based problems of this zone pertaining to development of
crop genotypes and release of crop varieties suitable to this
agro-climatic zone as well as to increase the production and
productivity of the crops in the zone for the betterment of the
farming community of the zone. This center, being the
Headquarter of Bhal and Coastal Zone, used to enjoy the status
of Regional Research Station. To co-ordinate, cater as well as
to guide in all kinds of multidisciplinary research activities
of the entire zone, one post of Associate Director of research
was functional from the main research station Arnej..
With the dissolution of Gujarat Agricultural University with
simultaneousinception of four Agricultural Universities in the
state, Arnej center has been placed under the newly formed Anand
Agricultural University and within a short time the post of
Associate Director of Research has been abolished from the
center with simultaneous degradation of status of this center
from Regional Research Station to a merely Research Station.
The center is situated 13 km away from Bagodara (Ahmedabad-
Rajkot NH 8) on Bagodara-Tarapur State highway and 75 km away
from Ahmedabad city and exists in Bhal and Coastal
Agro-climatic Zone VIII of Gujarat State.
Mode of Travel
to reach the center: (Distance from Railway station / Bus stop)
– By walking, local transport, Univ. vehicle (if available)
(about 3 km from both Railways & Bus Stop).
Mandate
NARP
:
Reclamation of
saline, sodic and saline-sodic soils of Bhal region.
Use of under ground
brackish water for agricultural production.
Introduction of new
crops to find out their feasibility for the region.
To develop new
genotypes of major rainfed crops suitable to drought, salinity and
water logged conditions.
To develop suitable
Agro-technology for the major and new crops and to develop
agricultural implements suitable for the area.
To develop the
technology for run-off rain water harvesting and recycling for
agricultural use.
To study crop pests
and diseases, their occurrence and control measures.
To find out the ways for alternative land use i.e. Arid
Horticulture/ Agro-forestry.
Experimental
Agro-Advisory Services (AAS Unit, NCMRWF, Arnej)
To send daily past
weather data twice in a week to NCMRWF, Noida (UP) and validate the
weather forecast received from Super Computer, NCMRWF.
To
prepare Agro-Met Advisory on the basis
of forecasted weather for linking the crop management strategies
during the period of forecast for harvesting the benefits of
favorable weather condition and protecting the crops from the likely
adversities of bad weather if any.
To
disseminate the weather based
Agro-Advisory bulletin to the farmers and other users through print
media, news papers, telephone, post, television and Internet.
Establishment of Transfer Of Technology
Centre
Popularizing
latest technologies of agriculture through specialized trainings,
farmers day, field day, farmers – scientist interaction, group
discussion etc.
Find
out the constraints faced by the farmers in adopting the developed
technologies and to suggest the possible alternatives.
Agricultural Research station
To
develop high yielding durum wheat varieties suitable for Bhal area
under rainfed condition.
To
develop high yielding chick pea varieties suitable for Bhal area
under rainfed condition.
To
produce breeder seed of chick pea.
Objectives
To
perform the lead function for the crop improvement of Wheat (Tritium
durum), gram and fodder sorghum in relation to saline, saline-sodic
agricultures.
Responsibilities for introduction of new crops to the region and to
workout agronomy.
Development of cultural aspects of wheat, gram, cotton and sorghum
as well as soil moisture onservation technology.
Studies on ameliorative measures for the salt affected soils and use
of saline ground water in agriculture.
Plant
Protection research for the pest and disease of the crops cultivated
in the region.
Improvement of local agricultural implements and tools with a view
to increase their efficacy as well as minimize wear & tear.
Approach to use uncultivable land through alternate crops (specially
horticultural crops)
Arrangement of annual workshop to bring together the extension staff
and the stations scientists to review and propose addition or
alternation in the research programmes for the influenced area and
for speedy flow of information from research stations to the
farmers fields, the trials on improved varieties, methodology and
implements will be arranged on the farmers field by the station in
collaboration with the State Department of Agriculture.
Arrangement of short duration course of about a day or two) to
familiarize the farmers with the latest technology know-how which,
besides the farmers day, will be organized by the station.
Publication of literature pertaining to the findings of the
stations.
Agro-climatic information of the Center
The station falls under
Gujarat Agro-climatic Zone – VIII
Rainfall: Average
rainfall of last 25 years: 625 mm.
Soil:Vertic
Ustochrept, Typic chromustert type with average depth of
100-125cm.
Latitude 21-45°
and 22-55°
longitude
Infrastructure
Farm area under cultivation
29.30
ha
Area under farm structure / building
11.88
ha.
Irrigated area
2.00 ha.
Source of irrigation
Farm Pond(harvested run-off water)
Other
Shallow –bore in pockets (ground water is brackish)
Major thrust area of research & crops
ØDevelopment
of drainage technology
ØIrrigation
management in those parts of the zone as would be covered under Sardar
Sarovar Irrigation Command.
ØStrategy
for sustainable agricultural development through recharging the under
ground water.
ØGeneration
of crop production technology under limited irrigations for the command
area, mono -cropping, double -cropping, crop-rotations and input
requirements as well as development of package of practices for pest and
disease management in the irrigated command as well as rainfed area
through integrated approach.
ØDevelopment
of variety especially durum wheat and chickpea tolerant to heat and
stress with higher productivity under rainfed as well as limited
irrigated conditions.
ØDiversification
cropping or introduction of new crops.
ØDevelopment
of low cost Argil. Technology including bio-fertilizer, bio-pesticides/
botanicals.
ØMonitoring
of soil health in the command area and need based reclamatory measures.
ØCrops:
Cotton, paddy, peral -millet, sesamum, fodder sorghum in kharif,
wheat and gram in Rabi
Faculty
Sr.No.
Name
Designation
Degree
Experience
Discipline
Area of Work
Contact No
1.
Dr.M.S.Jakasaniya
ECF Agronomist
Ph.D.
27
yrs
Ag.Chem.& Soil Sci.
Ag.Chem.& Soil
02714-294203
2.
Dr.A.J.Patel
Res.Sci.(P)
Ph.D.
32
yrs
Agril.Ento
Econo-mic Ento.
-do-
3.
Dr.I.R.Rathod
Assoc.Res.Sci.
Ph.D.
34
yrs
Agronomy
Agronomy
-do-
4.
Mr.K.L.Rathod
Assoc.Res.Sci.
M.Tech.
22
yrs
Irri.
Irri.
-do-
5.
Dr. C P Patel
Assoc.Res.Sci.
Ph D
34
yrs
Agril Extension
Agril. Extension
-do-
6.
Mr.H.B.Patel
Asstt.Res.Sci.
M.Sc.
21
yrs
Pl.Br. & Genetics
Pl.Br. & Genetics
-do-
7.
Mr.G.A.Patel
Asstt.Res.Sci.
M.Sc.
24
yrs
Soil Sci. & Ag.Chem.
Soil Sci. & Ag.Chem.
-do-
8.
Mr.M.M.Bhambhi
Sr.Res.Asstt.
Agril Diploma
34
yrs
-------
--------
-do-
9.
Mr.B.B.Patel
Sr.Res.Asstt.
M.Sc.
19
yrs
Agronomy
Agronomy
-do-
10.
Mr.H.B.Solanki
Sr.Res.Asstt.
B.Tech
13 Yrs
Ag.Engg.
-
-do-
11.
Dr. G B Chaudhari
Technical Officer
Ph D
2 Yrs
Agril Metereology
Agril Metereology
-do-
Experimental
Agro-Advisory Services (AAS Unit, NCMRWF, Arnej)
To send daily past
weather data twice in a week to NCMRWF, Noida (UP) and validate the
weather forecast received from Super Computer, NCMRWF.
To prepare Agro-Met
Advisory on the basis of forecasted weather for linking the crop
management strategies during the period of forecast for harvesting
the benefits of favorable weather condition and protecting the crops
from the likely adversities of bad weather if any.
To disseminate the
weather based Agro-Advisory bulletin to the farmers and other users
through print media, news papers, telephone, post, television and
Internet.
Establishment of Transfer Of Technology Centre
To
Popularizing latest technologies of agriculture through specialized
trainings, farmers day, field day, farmers – scientist interaction,
group discussion etc.
To
Find out the constraints faced by the farmers in adopting the
developed technologies and to suggest the possible alternatives.
Agricucultural Research station
To
develop high yielding durum wheat varieties suitable for Bhal area
under rainfed condition.
To
develop high yielding chick pea varieties suitable for Bhal area
under rainfed condition.
To produce breeder seed of chick pea.
Research Schemes: (Plan, Non plan, ICAR, GOI. Other
Agencies)
Sr. No.
Name of
the scheme
B.H.
Type of Scheme
Funding
Agency
1.
National
Agricultural Research Project
7078
Non- plan
State
Government
2.
Research in
Pulses
5007
Non- plan
State
Government
3.
Experimental
Agro-Advisory Services
18246-97
Plan
Other agency
4.
Establishment
of Transfer of Technology centre
10942-1
Plan
State
Goverment
Achievement (Research recommendations for the
farmers ) & Publication
Service to farmers and other organization
Farmers of this zone are being aware of package of practices of
different crops and other crop related recommendation in the
farm and also in their through meeting/gatherings/sabha
etc.
