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Research

With the introduction of NARP, the rice research station of Raipur was elevated as Zonal Agricultural Research Station (ZARS) in 1979 and the existing M.P. Rice Research Institute was merged with the ZARS. Two new Regional Agricultural Research Stations (RARS) were started at Jagdalpur and Ambikapur to cater the research needs of Bastar plateau and Northern hills agro-climatic zones respectively. The two research stations situated at Bilaspur and Waraseoni were brought under ZARS, Raipur as RARSs.

The research farms situated at Baronda and Bhatapara were also brought under ZARS, Raipur as seed multiplication centres.

Later under NARP-Phase II, the two RARSs at Jagdalpur and Ambikapur were elevated as ZARSs and a new RARS was opened at Raigarh to cater the research needs of Trans-Mahanadi area of Chhattisgarh plains. Thus, under ZARS, Raipur there are three RARSs while in the two ZARSs, there are no other research stations at present.

The lead and verification functions of the three ZARSs at the three agroclimatic zones are as below :

a) Chhattisgarh plains

Lead functions

  1. Soil and Water management in high rainfall area
  2. Rice
  3. Suitable cropping system for different soil types
  4. Linseed
  5. Lathyrus

Verification Functions

  1. Cereals-Wheat, kodo-kutki
  2. Pulses-Mung, urd, pigeonpea, gram
  3. Oil Seeds-Soybean, groundnut, rapeseed-mustard
  4. Horticultural crops

Testing Functions

  1. Til, sunflower, safflower
  2. Farm implements
  3. Animal nutrition
  4. Agroforestry

b) Bastar plateau

Lead function

Integrated crop-livestock-silvi and aquaculture farming system

Verification Functions

  1. Cereals - Rice, Small millets
  2. Oilseed - Niger, sesamum, rapeseed - mustard
  3. Pulses - Lathyrus, gram, urd
  4. Horticultural crops - Pineapple, mango, citrus, guava, chestnut
  5. Plantation - Cashew, pepper, coffee
  6. Tuber crops - Sweet potato, potato, beet root

Testing Functions

  1. Maize
  2. Agricultural implements

c) Northern hills

Lead function

Soil and water management and rainfed farming in hilly areas.

Verification functions

  1. Cereals - Rice, maize, wheat, kodo-kutki, ragi
  2. Oilseeds - Niger, rapeseed-mustard, sesamum, groundnut
  3. Pulses - Kulthi, urd, gram
  4. Horticulture crops
  5. Tuber crops
  6. Agroforestry
  7. Mixed farming

Testing functions

  1. Agricultural implements
  2. Leguminous fodder

After the establishment of IGAU, the thrust areas of research like horticulture, fisheries, agroforestry, agrometeorology, micro-biology, plant physiology, biotechnology, etc. have been identified and strengthened.