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ICAR-IIHR on aggressive mode to transfer tech to boost agri income
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Wednesday, 05 February, 2020, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Nandita Vijay, Bengaluru
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ICAR-IIHR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research) is now on aggressive mode to transfer its technologies that would have a positive impact on the Indian agriculture. Spanning from 10 crop nutrients to 28 crop protection, 20 post-harvest and 38 farm implements and machineries, the institute has developed these in-house.
“The need of the hour is to look at technology transfers at a rapid pace for the best of the agri industry. In an age of where qualified professionals from non-agricultural backgrounds now reversing their careers from information technology to farming, there is immense scope for our technologies to be put to good use. These technologies are making a difference in the lives of entrepreneurs and farmers,” Dr M R Dinesh, director, ICAR-IIHR, said.
“Our institute has devised a slew of technology themes. Under the seed and planting material we have 131, vegetable cultivars, 111 flower cultivars, 34 fruit cultivars and 13 medicinal cultivars. Ending 2018-19, we have generated revenue to the tune of Rs 3.51 crore through technology transfer and services,” he added.
“We have eight select technologies, viz., grapes dogridge rootstock, bio-pesticides formulations, foliar nutrient formulations, tomato Arka Rakshak, Mango Pheromone trap, Tuberrose Arka Prajwal, Arka Microbial Consortium and Guava Arka Kiran, which annually contribute Rs 13,220 crore to the national economy,” the institute pointed out.
“For instance, the grapes dogridge rootstock has become very popular in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Northern Karnataka. The use of rootstocks like dogridge helps in mitigating the twin problems of salinity and drought. It covers 90 per cent of the grape area spread over one lakh hectare. Now, this provides an annual benefit of Rs 6,250 crore to the growers,” stated the institute scientists.
The bio-pesticides formulations can be adopted on an area of eight lakh hectare, providing a 15-20 per cent income benefit. Annually, profit would be to the tune of Rs 4,800 crore.
The foliar nutrient formulations provide a 15 per cent higher yield, and about 24 per cent of escalated income, generating an annual gain of Rs 720 crore.
Providing an insight into the licencing profile, the institute stated that so far 80 technologies, 400 clients and 800 licences are transferred to farmer producer organisations (FPOs), individual entrepreneurs, state horticulture departments and private companies.
In the case of post-harvest technologies which cover the ready-to-serve (RTS) beverages of fruit squahes, made of jackfruit guava have been received positively. Then there are also fruit bar technologes of various fruits.
In the farm implements and machinery category, the institute has proved that its indigenously-developed fruit and vegetable vending van, which maintains freshness up to 36 to 48 hours, and reduces 20 to 30 per cent of post-harvest losses in comparison to open cart vending.
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