Castor, ZARS, GKVK, Bengaluru

AICRP Scheme/Unit : All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Castor
Location : Zonal Agricultural Research Station, GKVK, UAS, Bangalore-560065
Year of Start: 2018

Mandate:

• To evaluate the varieties/hybrids and the technologies of national and regional importance through multi-location testing in co-ordinated approach
• To develop early/medium maturing, high yielding varieties / hybrids of castor with drought tolerance
• To develop economically viable package of practices and its revalidation to tackle the location specific problems under the changed climatic scenario
• To popularize the high yielding varieties/hybrids and production technologies among the farmers by conducting frontline demonstrations, training programs and field days.

Research Programmes:

• Multi location testing of varieties, hybrids and new technologies
• Development of early/medium duration high yielding castor genotypes
• Identification of drought tolerant castor genotypes for commercial cultivation in dry areas of Karnataka
• Development of location specific viable production technologies in castor for rainfed ecosystem
• Screening and identification of graymold (Botrytis) resistant source in castor

Research Accomplishments :
(Varieties released /Technologies developed / Patents developed/ Commercialized etc…)

• Castor hybrid ICH-66 endorsed for zone 4, 5 and 6 of southern Karnataka
• Technology on inter cropping of castor + finger millet (4:2) has been recommended at Notational level.

Awards / Recognitions:

• Dr.Yamanura awarded Young Scientist Award -2021 in the field of GPB during International Conference on Recent Advances for Managing Sustainable Soil Health and Crop Production organized by GKV Society, Agra, India.
• Dr. Mohan Kumar R and Dr.Yamanura awardedProf. B. V. Venkatarao Best Scientific Article award from University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore for “Integrated Crop Livestock System for Livelihood enhancement in Rainfed Farming”.

Facilities Available:

• Infrastructure available for in-vitro /in-vivo screening against gray mold of castor
• Crop advisory on integrated castor crop management for higher productivity and profitability

Other Activities:

• Popularization of improved castor cultivars and technologies among farming community
• Exploration and evaluation of castor accessions for diverse traits of interest
• Standardization and re validation of castor Agro-Technics for productive and remunerative cultivation under changed climatic scenario

Externally Funded Projects in Operation:

Staff Profile: