Regional Horticultural Research and Training Station, Bajaura Bajaura, Kullu(HP)

Dr Devina Vaidya
Associate Director (R&E)

The Regional Horticultural Research and Training Station, Bajaura, was established under the Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry on 22nd March 1986. It is located at 32.8oN latitude, 74.7oE longitude with an altitude of 1090 m above mean sea level. The RHR&TS Bajaura has four Sub stations namely, Horticultural Research Station, Seobagh (1297 m amsl), Bee-Keeping and cherry Research Station, Katrain (1715 m amsl), Forestry Research Station, Manali (2150 m amsl) and Medicinal and aromatic plants Research Station, Rahla (2490 m amsl). The station contributes by conducting research on temperate fruits, vegetable crops, ornamentals, agro-forestry and medicinal and aromatic plants in order to meet the research criteria of zone-II (sub-humid mid-hill temperate zone). The district headquarter Kullu is 14 km (North) and Mandi is 55 Km (south) away and Bhuntar Airport is 5 Km away from the station on Mandi Kullu NH-21 highway. Scorching summer to a bitterly cold winter with significant snowfall in the adjoining higher elevations experiences 38 °C maximum temperature in June and -5 °C minimum temperature in January, with average rainfall 166 cm. The station extends services through institutional trainings, one day camps, field demonstrations, diagnostic camps, technical bulletins, popular articles books, research papers, and advisories for dissemination of R&D knowledge among stake holders.

Mandate

Introduction, evaluation, multiplication and commercialization of new varieties of temperate fruits, vegetable crops, ornamentals, ago-forestry, medicinal and aromatic plants for Zone-II (Sub – humid mid hill zone).
To share developed technology with local growers through periodically scheduled field demonstration activities and variably planned grower's trainings.
To establish integrated management practices and reduce horticultural losses brought on by unfavorable weather, insect pests, diseases, weeds, and physiological imbalances.

Strengths

Diversified altitude and climatic conditions for evaluation of different cultivars of various horticultural crops.
R&D for natural bee hives for local honeybees (Apis cerana) for entrepreneurship strengthening.
Demonstration block of Natural farming for apple, pear and kiwifruit.
Forest track with indigenous species of forest trees, aromatic and medicinal plants.
Year round cultivation of exotic vegetable crops.

Research

Thrust Areas

Survey for identification of new bud sports, evaluation of elite cultivars and mass multiplications of clonal rootstocks of temperate fruit crops.
Development of nursery and demonstration block of temperate fruit crops under natural farming.
Testing of year round cultivation of different vegetable crops and flower crops for Kullu valley conditions.
Standardization of production technology and multiplication of potential native forest plants and medicinal and aromatic plants for cultivation.
Strengthening and popularization of natural mud bee hive technology and monitoring of emerging insect-pest and diseases in horticultural crop.

Ongoing Research Projects

Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Development Project (Development of Package and Practices for High Density Plantation on Clonal rootstock funded by World Bank (₹1065.86 Lakh; August 2016 to June 2023).
Honey and other hive products production model for sustainable high-hill beekeeping in Himachal Pradesh.
Pest surveillance funded by World Bank (₹ Lakh; August 2016 to June 2023).
Managed Pollination funded by World Bank (₹ Lakh; August 2016 to June 2023).
Canopy Management and Plant Architectural Engineering in Temperate Fruits funded by CITH, Srinagar (J&K) (₹22.69 Lakh; March 2016 to till date).
Outreach technology for temperate fruit crops funded by CITH, Srinagar (J&K) (₹08.00 Lakh; 20-12-2008 to till date).

Achievements

Developed soft seeded variety of pomegranate ‘Solan Jayant’ and disseminated through multiplication among pomegranate growers.
Garlic variety ‘Bajaura selection’ has been released for cultivation.
Introduced and evaluated improved cultivars of temperate fruits viz. apple, pear, plum, apricot, peach, cherry, hazelnut, pomegranate for zone II
Established demonstration orchard on different training systems for apple, plum cultivation under high density plantation.
Established bud wood bank of different varieties of temperate fruits.
Production of true to type planting material of different fruit crops.
Established a new unit for multiplication of clonal rootstocks of apple, plum, pear and cherry.
Standardized the pollination management practices for hazelnut (Corylus avellana).
Standardized the production technology for year round production of cole crops under Kullu Valley conditions.
Standardized the natural mud bee hive technology for rearing Apis cerana honey bees.
Developed spray schedule for management of insect –pest and diseases of pomegranate
Standardized the production technology for the thornless robinia (Robinia pseudoacacia).

Technologies selected in Package of Practices of Horticultural Crops: 23 Patents Filed/ Published/Granted: 6 published and 4 filed Technologies commercialized: 9

Bee Village (Apis cerana) at HRS, Seobagh

Practical demonstration at farmer’s field on high density apple plantation

Extension

To commercialize the optimized crop practices among orchardists/ farmers through different communication means for better adoption in the field for socio-economic upliftment of the stakeholders of Mandi, Kullu and Lahaul & Spiti districts of Himachal Pradesh.

Achievements

48 institutional trainings organized on production and management aspects of horticultural crops for 1644 beneficiaries of Mandi and Kullu districts of Himachal Pradesh.
63 one day training camps organized at village level for 2463 farmers of district Mandi, Kullu and Lahaul & Spiti.
03 Kisan Mela has been organized at Bajaura, Dharakhari and Katrain.
The scientists have delivered more than 82 lectures at sponsored training programmes of different institutions/agencies.
Participating centre for RAWE training programme for B Sc final year students of college of Horticulture, Dr YSP UH&F, Nauni and COH, Thunag, Mandi.
22 exposure visits conducted for B Sc and M Sc agriculture/horticulture students of different institutions at the station.
522 farmers visited the station for redressal their problems related to the horticultural crops.

Awards/Recognitions

Dr Devina Vaidya received Life Time Achievement Award-2020 conferred by Agro Environmental Development Society (AEDS), UP, India.
Dr Devina Vaidya as PI received Best AICRP Centre of the year Award 2019-20 conferred by All India Coordinated Research Project on PHET Solan Centre received in 2019.
Dr Devina Vaidya as PI received Best AICRP Centre of the year Award 2018-19 conferred by All India Coordinated Research Project on PHET Solan Centre received in 2018.
Dr Devina Vaidya received Certificate of appreciation-2018 conferred by Dr YSPUHF, Nauni, Solan (HP) for meritorious services to the university.
Dr Devina Vaidya received Kejriwal Award -2017 for best article of interest to the industry in the area of Fruit and Vegetable Technology conferred by All India Food Processors’ Association, New Delhi on December 16, 2017 at New Delhi.
Dr Devina Vaidya received Dr Rajendra Prasad Puraskar -2015 for Technical books in Hindi in Agricultural and Allied Sciences conferred by ICAR, New Delhi.
Dr Devina Vaidya received Chaudhary Devi Lal award-2015 for Post- Harvest Engineering and Technology, CIPHET conferred by ICAR, New Delhi.
Dr Devina Vaidya as PI received Best AICRP Centre of the year Award 2007-12 conferred by All India Coordinated Research Project on PHET Solan Centre received in 2012.
Dr Devina Vaidya received Certificate of Honour and Gold medal -2003 conferred by Himotkarsh Sahitya Sanskriti evm Jankalyan Parisdad, Una (HP).
Dr Devina Vaidya received Certificate of Honour and Gold medal -2002 conferred by CSK HPKVV, Palampur (HP).
Dr Devina Vaidya received Certificate of Honour -1988 conferred by CSK HPKVV, Palampur (HP).
Dr Joginder Singh received Best Poster Paper award-2016 on Effect of managed pollination on apple production in dry temperate regions of Western Himalayas in 7th Indian Horticulture Congress at New Delhi w.e.f. November 14-17, 2016.
Dr Vijay Kumar received Young Scientist Award-2016 in Horticulture from JMD Educational Society ETAH, UP Confers in National Conference on Agricultural and Rural Innovations for sustainable empowerment at Warangal, Telangana on May 21-22, 2016.
Dr Vijay Kumar received Young Scientist Award- 2017 in Horticulture from Science & Tech Society for Integrated Rural Improvement in National Conference on doubling farmer’s income for sustainable and harmonious agriculture at Tirupati on September 9-10, 2017.
Dr Vijay Kumar received Best Oral Presentation Award -2022 in National Conference and Webinar on Doubling Farmers Income for Sustainable & Harmonious Agriculture held at KNIPSS, Sultanpur, UP w.e.f. June 11-12, 2022.