The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. Formerly known as Imperial Council of Agricultural Research, it was established on 16 July, 1929 as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

Sucess Story

Once a Worried Farmer, Now Inspiring Villagers

Highlights of Success

Change in economic condition of a poor farmer.
Effective use of land for vegetable cultivation.
Exploring new income generating option.

Keshav Prasad, a farmer of Mahogni village of Jamalpur block in Mirzapur district, Uttar Pradesh, owns 1.5 acre cultivated land adjacent to river Ganga. Vegetable cultivation is main source of his livelihood, but the declining production and income was a cause of great worry for him.

On the advice of a close one, Keshav Prasad visited Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR), Varanasi, a premier institute of ICAR, to see and learn new production technologies for vegetables crops. He was impressed with the cultivation of cowpea. He acquired all relevant information for the cultivation of this remunerative crop. Then, he prepared his land under the supervision of scientists of IIVR. They demonstrated two varieties of cowpea Kashi Unnati and Kashi Kanchan to him. He started the cultivation of these cowpea varieties in an area of 1.5 hectare. The sowing was done in the month of May on ridges following the methods as suggested by the scientists.

Read more ...