Faculty Information : 

Geographical Information :

Geographically this research station is situated on South Saurashtra sea coast with 21.50 north latitude and 71.50 longitudes with MSL is 24 M. The average rainfall is 600 to 700 mm. The soil is sandy clay loam with pH Range 8.0 to 8.5 having regular saline patches that tend to be problematic. Well water has also become brackish to saline because of ingression from sea.

Mandates :

1) To evolve high yielding variety of coconut.   
2) To find out suitable plant protection measure against coconut pest and disease.   
3) To determine most suitable and effective, eco-friendly and low cost agronomical practices for the production of coconut and fruit crop.   
4) To introduce new fruit and plantation crops for the region.   
5) To supply the true to type planting materials of coconut and fruit crops to the farmers.   
6) Experiments related to reclamation of problematic soil   
7) Rain water harvesting.

Objectives :

1) Collection evaluation and maintenance of indigenous and exotic germplasm of coconut and fruit crops.   
2) To generate germplasm for developing biotic and abiotic stress resistant high yielding varieties of plantation and fruit crops.   
3) To test and develop new production technology for plantation and fruit crop.   
4) To produce and distribute seedling of coconut of varieties D x T (Mahuva) among the farmers.   
5) To develop farming facilities for farmer having horticultural crop cultivation.   
6) To maintain indigenous WCT cultivar.

Establishment of Elite seed farm :

To fulfill the demand of hybrid coconut a project Under RKVY 2009-10, “Establishment of Elite Seed Farm for Coconut D x T (Mahuva) seed nut Production” for large scale production of D x T (Mahuva) seed nut and seedlings successfully established at this station. Under this project total 1570 plants of coconut cv. Dwarf Green as female and 700 plants of coconut cv. West Coast Tall as Male has been planted during July-2011 and naturally cross pollination has been carried out. The protection has been done by means of cement pole, barbed wire and galvanized iron wire chain link. Currently Elite farm produce more than 20,000 seed annually. Back to back natural calamities like Taukte cyclone and Heavy attacked of rugose spiralling whitefly broken the well-developed micro climate and disturbed seed setting. Currently with the different remedies like root feeding and application of manure and fertilizer, plant become healthy and capable to produce nuts.

Research projects and scheme : 

Coconut seedling rate for selling (effective from 01-04-2025) : 

Research Activities :

1) Efficacy of different insecticides against Eriophyid mites (Aceria guerrenonis Keifer) infesting Coconut Cv. D x T  
2) Studies on seasonal activity Opisina arenosella W. and its parasitism 
3) High Density Planting of Sapota under saline soil. 
4) Large Scale Varietal Trial on Red and Red Dark Onion. 
5) Evaluation of Biocontrol agent and its combination against disease complex of onion. 
6) Evaluation of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) genotype. 
7) Effect of Biofertilizers on Seedling Growth and Biochemical Changes of Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) 
8) Management of bud rot disease in coconut nursery. 
9) Bio-efficacy of different natural farming components against sucking pest of coconut. 
10) Efficacy of different natural farming components against sucking pest through root feeding in coconut. 
11) Effect of different growing media on germination and seedling quality of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) cv. WCT 
12) Effect of different growing media on germination and seedling quality of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) cv. Dwarf green 
13) Impact of different irrigation level and organic mulch type on coconut seedlings.

Publications :

1) Prestigious Sardar Patel Agriculture Research Award 
2) Research Papers Published by the Faculty : 40 
3) Popular Articles / Folder / Booklet : 80 
4) Books : 6 
5) Prestigious Award received by faculty: 08

Coconut seedling production and selling (2010-11 to 2024-25) : 

Award/appreciation received by station and faculties :

1.  Shri R. B. Sarvaiya and his co-worker were awarded Sardar Patel Agricultural Research Award for outstanding contribution toward agricultural development and releasing D x T coconut hybrid in the year 1997-98.

2.  Dr. A. S. Kotiya received Mahima Innovative Scientist Award from Mahima Social Welfare for outstanding research contribution in the field of Aquaculture in the year of 2021.

3.  Dr. A. S. Kotiya received Excellence in Aquaculture Award from Agricultural & Environmental Technology Development Society for conferring on the best research work on Tilapia fish fed with shrimp pond sludge in the year of 2021.

4.  Dr. V. R. Ahir received Young Scientist Award from Agro Environmental Development Society for best research work in the field of plant pathology during the year of 2021.

5.  Shri T. K. Mandaviya received Young Agriculturist Award from Agro Environmental Development Society on 6th International Conference at Darjeeling during 11-13 June, 2022.

6.  Dr. V. R. Ahir received Young Researcher Award for outstanding contribution in the field of plant pathology from Just Agriculture in the year of 2022.

7.  Shri T. K. Mandaviya received Young Scientist Award from Research Education Solution, on an International Conference on Green Technology, Agriculture Information Technology, Business Management and Social Science during 16-17 July, 2022.

8.  Shri T. K. Mandaviya received Excellence in Faculty Training Award During International Award Ceremony on the Birth of the Birth Anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radha Krishnan on 5th Sep 2022.

9.  Shri T. K. Mandaviya received Young Achiever Award On the Occasion of 4th International Conference at Pokhra Campus, Nepal during September 17-19, 2022 for Outstanding Contribution and Recognition in the Field of Plant Pathology.

10. Shri T. K. Mandaviya received Young Achiever Award For contributing in the field of Agriculture and extension Activities for farmers welfare in the year of 2023.

11. Dr. V. R. Ahir and Shri T. K. Mandaviya honoured with Fellow of the Society for Advancement of Human & Nature (SADHNA), Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Himachal Pradesh, India

Transfer of Technologies / Extension Activities :

     The technologies developed at this research station are being disseminated to the various extension agencies, N.G.O's, farmers and students by Organizing farmer’s day / agril. fair at the station, by participating in the ' Krushi Mela ', farmers days and Agril. Exhibition organized by University or other agencies, educating students during Kendra visit and to farmers during visit of this station. Through TV, Radio broadcasting, literature, press note, personnel/spot field diagnosis and letter etc the extension activities is carried out.

Agro Based ITI Training :

     Agro based ITI training has been delivered at this station. To strengthen the rural youth, this training programme conducted here. Different training related to agriculture like onion seed production, animal husbandry and coconut seed production etc skill oriented training organized by this station.

Development of new plots :

Coconut museum :

     For live demonstration of different varieties of coconut, we have developed one live coconut museum. In this museum we have planted eight varieties of coconut in three line of each one. Eight varieties are D x T Mahuva, T x D mahuva, F2 (D x T), F2 (T x D), Green Dwarf, Yellow, Orange, West coast Tall.

Vrajvadi :

     To fullfil the demand of D x T hybrid Mahuva, Vrajvadi plot has been successfully developed at this station in 2017. In this plot 1700 seedling of green dwarf has been planted for hybridization purpose. When this seedling was fully mature, manually hybridization will be carried out.

Navan plot :

     To fulfil the requirement of healthy pollen for hybridization and to conserve exotic Deshi cultivar WCT, we have planted 200 plant of west coast tall in this new plot.

Bee keeping/honeybees training :

     Bee keeping is a new emerging business now a days and our prime minister also insist farmer to do something new like bee keeping and mushroom cultivation. We focus on strengthen farmer in bee keeping. In previous year, we have do 22 training on bee keeping & for upcoming year, we also have planning to arrange training for farmer regarding bee keeping.

Water Management/ Harvesting :

     Water management is an important aspect at this station. We have carried out activities regarding water harvesting & management. To harvest the rainwater, we have created a big channel around the field. In last year, we had constructed a farm pond to store the rain water and it has been used during scarcity of water in the month of May-June.

Other Activities :

     Extension activities also carried out at this station. We have conducted training for farmer with the help of agriculture department, horticulture department, pidilite industries, Tata trust and many other NGOs.