Year of Establishment : 1962

Introduction:

The Vegetable Research Station was established at Junagadh  under the scheme for Research and Improvement in Vegetable and Fruit crops sanctioned during 1962-63. Other two schemes viz., All India Coordinated Vegetable Improvement Project sanctioned during April 1998 and Strengthening of Vegetable Research started from December 1991. At present, the multidisciplinary work is being carried out on various vegetable crops of the region. Two new schemes viz., National Agricultural Technology Project (in April 2000) and Establishment of New Research Centre on Onion Crops at Junagadh functioning from April 2002. One other scheme Establishment of New Research Sub Centre for Research in Garlic was transfer from Jamnagar to Junagadh. The main objective of this centre is to develop high yielding and diseases resistance variety / hybrid and their production and protection technology.

Mandate :

Crop Improvement :

1. Collection, evaluation and maintenance of new germplasm lines of different vegetable crops of this region.

2. Development of  high yielding, early maturing, disease and insect resistant varieties with better quality of various vegetable crops for this region.

3. Development of high yielding varieties of onion and garlic with traits suitable for dehydration and export purpose.

4. Development of varieties suitable for off-season cultivation viz. kharif and summer onion, summer tomato, winter okra, cowpea and cluster been etc.

5. Development of salt and drought tolerant varieties of important vegetable crops of this region.

6. Provide pure seeds of improved verities to the farmers in reasonable price and in time.

Crop production :

1. To identify efficient technologies for the storage of onion and garlic crops.

2. To develop agro technique like sowing distance, fertilizer, seeds, weed management and irrigation technology in vegetable crops.

3. To develop off season cultivation in net house/green house, sprinkler irrigations, drip irrigation, air gun irrigation, bower system in cucurbits, telephone system in tomato.

4. To develop organic farming in vegetable. 

Crop protection :

1. Research in crop protection methods.

2. To work on integrated disease management practices and epidemiological study of important diseases of vegetable crops.

3. To develop non-chemical method of crop protection.

Seed Production :

1. Production of nucleus and breeder seeds of improved varieties of vegetable crops.
2. Seed production of promising entries.

Objectives :

1. Survey and collection of germplasm for various vegetable crops.

2. Maintenance and screening of germplasm for further improvement and  evaluation of varieties.
3. Improvement of different Vegetable crop through hybridization.
4. Introduction of potential new vegetable crops and their further study for adaptability.
5. To develop hybrid/varieties suitable for domestic as well as export market coupled with resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.
6. Testing of suitability of different vegetable varieties developed at national level for this region.
7. To determine the suitable package of practices for different vegetable crops.
8. To study the control measure of insect pest and disease in various vegetable crops.
9. To develop packages for post harvest handling, value addition and processing.
10. To provide  pure seeds of improved varieties/hybrids of vegetable crops at right time and place to vegetable grower.

Research Activities :

Crop Improvement  :

Crop Production:

Crop Protection :

Summary of Research Activities  (2009-10) :

Faculty Profile :

Research projects and schemes – ongoing :

Achievements :

Varieties developed by this station before inception of the G.A.U. 

(Before 01.06.1972) : Total-8

Varieties developed by this station after inception of the G.A.U.   (After 01.06.1972) : Total-12

Varieties developed by this station after inception of the J.A.U. (After 01.05.2004) : Total-6

Varieties endorsed after inception  of the G.A.U. (after 1.6.72) : 4

Varieties identified for cultivation under AIC for various Zone : 5

Awards received :

Transfer of Technologies :

The technologies developed at this research station is being discriminated to the various extension agencies, N.G.O's, farmers and students in the following ways

• Organizing farmers day  at the station every two year
• Participating in the 'Krushi Mela', farmers days and Agril. Exhibition organized by University or other agencies.
• Educating govt. officers in pre – seasonal training, farmer shibir, farmers day, JAU to the farmers door, RAWE programmed, Agriculture fair, Agriculture exhibition,   diagnostic team visit and other training programmes.
• Conducting demonstration plot and organizing field days on farmers field.
• Educating students during Kendra Nivas  and to farmers during visit of this station.
• Through TV, Radio broadcasting, literature, press note, personnel / spot field  diagnosis and letter etc

Publications :

Research Papers : 35

Popular Articles : 36

Books : 1

Folders : 42

Linkage of the center to SAUs and National institute/center :

(a) Linkage of the center to SAUs / Department

 1. Anand Agricultural University, Anand

2. Sardar Krushi Nagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Dantiwada

3. Navasari Agricultural University, Navasari

4. Director of Horticulture, Gandhinagar

 (b) Linkage of the center to National institute/center

1. Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi (U.P. State)

2. Indian Institute of Agricultural Research, New Delhi

3. Indian Institute of Hortcultural Research, Bangalore.

4. Nation Research on Onion and Garlic, Rajgurunagar, Pune (Maharashtra)

5. National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resource,  New Delhi.

6. Directorate of Arecanut & Spices Development, Calicut (Kerala)

7. National Horticultural Research Development Foundation,Nasik

8. National Horticultural Mission, Central Government, New Delhi