The inter-specific grafting has emerged as a promising tool for increasing the tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, besides enhancing the productivity in vegetables. The dual or multiple grafting is a new technological option, wherein, two or more than two scions of the same family are grafted together to harvest more than one vegetable from a single plant. At ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh after a successful field demonstration of Grafted Pomato (Potato + Tomato), the Dual Grafting of Brinjal and Tomato (Brimato) was demonstrated in the field during 2020-21. The Brinjal Hybrid - Kashi Sandesh and improved cultivar of Tomato - Kashi Aman were successfully grafted into brinjal rootstock - IC 111056. The Grafting Operation was carried out when Brinjal seedlings were 25 to 30 days old and Tomato 22 to 25 days old. The Brinjal Rootstock - IC 111056 has a tendency to develop two branches in around 5% seedlings. The Grafting was done by...

26th September, 2021 The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi accolades the Medi-Hub TBI, an Agri-Business Incubator (ABI) hosted at the ICAR-Directorate of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants Research, Anand, Gujarat in his “Mann Ki Baat” Programme Broadcast on All India Radio today. Commissioned in the Year - 2020 with the financial support from the National Agricultural Innovation Fund (NAIF) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the Incubator is first of its kinds to cater the Start-Ups need in the Medicinal & Aromatic Plants hosted at the ICAR-Directorate of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants Research, Anand, Gujarat. The Prime Minister appreciated the Entrepreneurial initiative of Smt. Sai Sudha Chebrolu from Anand, Gujarat for her herbal farm - M/s Bilvam Jaganmaata Herbals Pvt. Ltd. and Smt. Subashree from M/s ATRI Products from Chennai being Incubated at Medi-Hub, TBI. With its vision for commercializing the Innovations and Start-Ups in the...

The ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar, Odisha implemented a Project under the ICAR-National Agricultural Science Fund Project in a cluster of two Villages, viz., Sankilo and Tentalpur under Nischintakoili Block of Cuttack District, Odisha by adopting 40 Farm Women. The main objective of the Project is to promote Women Empowerment and Gender Sensitization by bridging the gender gap. The gender gap indicators were identified and assessed using the SHEET (Social-Health-Environmental-Economic-Technological) Module.   A “Gender Sensitive Agri-Horti Cropping System Model” was developed involving three-tier approach, viz., Livelihood Enhancement Model for the Small and Marginal Women Farmers, Nutritional Security Model for Medium-Income Group Women Farmers and Entrepreneurship Promotion Model for Women Farmers through Institute-Industry-Stakeholders’ Linkages. A total income of Rs. 6, 59,300/- was generated in the Group approach in...

In Jharkhand, naturally grown Mushrooms are also consumed widely by the local people. However, due to the short period of availability of naturally growing mushrooms, their commercial cultivation has lots of potential in the state. More than 84% of the farmers in the state are small & marginal farmers and Oyster Mushroom Cultivation could help to ensure additional income by the utilization of available resources like paddy straw. Keeping this in mind, the Farming System Research Centre for Hill and Plateau Region, Ranchi (FSRCHPR) of ICAR-RCER carried out the technology demonstration on Oyster Mushroom Cultivation under the DBT Biotech KISAN Hub Project in three Villages - Sarwal, Hahap and Koiribera located at 18 to 23 Kms from Ranchi, Jharkhand. At the beginning of the project during 2019, the average agricultural income of the farmers in the Project Villages was Rs. 1.7 Lakh per Year. The assessment of availability of paddy straw indicated that nearly 38% of the...

With an aim of empowering the women folks of the Villages in Uttarakhand, the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Dehradun, Uttarakhand came-up with a unique idea of utilizing the locally available raw materials to enlighten the Diwali festival. To realize the idea, the KVK carried out experiments for constructing Diyas using Cow Dung along with the herbs with the help of the farm woman - Smt. Sita Bhatt of Charba Village, Vikasnagar Block, Dehradun District. To prepare these unique Diyas, the Cow Dung is slightly sun-dried bound with a small ratio of fine soil. To add fragrance in Diyas, the Neem, Lantana, Lemon Grass and Tulsi Leaves along with the other locally available leaves were dried, ground finely and added in the mixture. After thoroughly blending the dough to obtain a homogenous mixture, the prepared dough was then shaped into Diyas.   On being dried, the Diyas were painted with all-natural colors like Geru, turning them into a beautiful hue of colors. The turmeric and...