HRS, Kahikuchi
Preamble
The Horticultural Research Station, Kahikuchi, a research station under Assam Agricultural University, is located at the western end of Guwahati city by the side of National Highway 37. The station is 20 km away from Guwahati railway station and 2 km from the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati and spreads across an area of 32 ha. It lies on 20018' N latitude, 91078' E longitude and 64.0 m above MSL. The station falls in the Lower Brahmaputra Valley Agro-climatic Zone of Assam. It receives an average annual rainfall ranging from 1800-2000 mm. The maximum and minimum temperatures range from 190 -350 C and 80 - 270 C, respectively. The soil texture of the station is mainly alluvial clay loam, having a pH range of 4.8 – 5.5.
Genesis
In 1957, the Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Assam, being the controlling authority, initiated research in horticulture with a scheme on pineapple at this centre. Thereafter, the station was renamed as Regional Fruit Research Station in 1960-61 and the research works continued. Subsequently, the station was handed over to Assam Agricultural University in 1973 when it acquired its present identity as Horticultural Research Station. Initially functioning with research thrust focused on the three mandated crops, viz., Banana, Coconut and Pineapple, the station, in keeping pace with shifts in research priorities and paradigms, had gradually embarked upon research activities in the different horticultural components of fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, medicinal and aromatic plants as well as post harvest management. At present, the station is the only one of its kind in the entire north eastern region and has been playing a pioneering role in conducting basic and applied research in the field of horticulture for the entire state of Assam.
Mandates
· Technology generation in horticulture
· Quality planting material production
· Capacity building of stakeholders
· Provisioning technical support to the state government and the line departments
· Transfer of technologies to the farming community
Manpower profile
Ø Scientific staff : 21 (Belonging to the disciplines of Horticulture, Soil Science, Agronomy,
Plant Pathology, Entomology, Plant Breeding & Genetics and
Agricultural Extension)
Ø Technical staff : 14 (Field Assistants/Research Associates/Project Associate/Asstt Project
Scientist/ Research Technician/Computer Operator)
Ø Ministerial staff : 04
Ø Support staff : 03
Ø Contractual & Muster Roll Workers: 44
MAJOR RESEARCH PROJECTS/SCHEMES IN OPERATION
Sl. No. | Scheme | Year of start | Funding Agency | Mandates |
1 | All India Coordinated Research Project on Palms | 1985 | ICAR | Collection, conservation and evaluation of local coconut germplasm Development of suitable coconut varieties Development of suitable coconut based cropping system Development of location-specific agro-techniques in coconut |
2 | All India Coordinated Research Project on Floriculture | 2001 | ICAR | Area expansion through location specific flower production Green house flower production Testing of new cut flowers for the region Production of elite planting materials through micro propagation Value addition for dry flower decoration Commercial exploitation of wild foliages and flowering trees Development of technologies for post harvest management of flowers |
3 | All India Coordinated Research Project on Agro-forestry | 1983 | ICAR | Identification and evaluation of promising agro-forestry systems Standardization of technologies in relation to agro-forestry systems Area expansion of promising agro-forestry system |
4 | All India Coordinated Research Project on Spices (Co-opted centre) | 2015 | ICAR | Collection, conservation & evaluation of ginger, turmeric, black pepper and King Chilli. Generation of quality planting materials of ginger, turmeric, black pepper and King Chilli. |
5 | Precision Farming Development Centre | 2012 | Ministry of Agriculture, GoI | Technology standardization for precision farming of horticultural crops with central focus on protected cultivation, plastic mulching, micro-irrigation and application of other precision tools. |
6 | Fruits & Vegetable Research Scheme | - | Govt. of Assam | Applied research on landraces and improved varieties of fruits and vegetables |
7 | Vegetable Research Scheme | - | Govt. of Assam | Evaluating the feasibility, location-specificity and productive potential of indigenous and improved/hybrid vegetables |
8 | Coconut Research Scheme | - | Govt. of Assam | Collection, conservation & evaluation of local & exotic germplasm of coconut Development of varieties for tender nut, copra and consumption purpose |
9 | Strengthening of HRS | - | Govt. of Assam | Facilitation of research infrastructure |
10 | APART | 2018 | ARIAS, Govt. Of Assam (World Bank) | To add value and improve resilience of selected agriculture value chains, focusing on smallholder farmers and agro-entrepreneurs in targeted districts of Assam |
11 | Design and Development of Digital Image database with an Android App and Web System for the Detection of Major Pests and Diseases of Coconut in Assam | 2018-19 | Coconut Development Board | To development app for digital solution of biotic stress in coconut |
