Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
number of horticultural technologies for the region like identification of
suitable varieties of different fruit crops, fruit based multitier cropping
system for uplands, rain water harvesting for establishment of fruit or-
chards, nutrient management of horticultural crops, canopy management
in fruit trees, integrated pest and disease management in fruit crops. Being
the only center of ICAR to work on horticulture through natural resource
management in the region, the ICAR RCER RC, Ranchi has constraints
for reaching out to the large area in eastern plateau and hill region. It was
felt by the center to join hands with developmental organizations for wid-
ening its outreach program.
COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE PARTNERS
Technical assistance on orchard establishment and management was
sought by PRADAN from ICAR RCER, Research Centre, Ranchi dur-
ing 2005-06. For up gradation and technical fine-tuning in the pomol-
ogy sector, field visits were arranged by PRADAN for scientists of ICAR
RCER to different areas in Gumla district of Jharkhand where horticul-
ture program was being implemented. This helped the scientists to have
a firsthand assessment of the progress made by PRADAN in promoting
fruit cultivation in Jharkhand. The visits also helped the scientists of ICAR
RCER, RC to assess the kind of technological support needed for strength-
ening the horticulture program of PRADAN. Preliminary study indicated
four major concerns of the extension agency, PRADAN.
1. Sudden mortality of 1 or 2 or 3 year old plants of mango in the
field.
2. Heavy incidence of pest inside the plant canopy.
3. Plant mortality due to termite attack.
4. Gummosis of plants.
Upon discussion among other scientists working on mango, it was sug-
gested by ICAR RCER, RC, R to use microbial antagonists in the soil
like
Trichoderma
. It was also decided that
Trichoderma
should be used
at the planting in all upcoming plantations. Sudden mortality of plants
at the unset of rainy season was also observed. Hence it was also sug-
gested by the scientists to avoid prolonged dryness at the root zone during
the summer months. For this the staffs of PRADAN were given exposure
to the technology of rainwater harvesting. Last four years of result indi-
