ICAR-CIAH Bikaner signs MoAs for propagation and dissemination of varieties of semi-arid fruit

30th September 2023, Bikaner

Fruit crops such as Jamun, Bael and Chironji are generally harvested from the wild and then brought to the market by tribal earning livelihood. Taking into consideration the avenues for revenue generation and enhancing the income of farmers ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner scientists at Vejaplur, Godhra carried out a series of long-term experiments to develop high-yielding and processable fruit varieties of these crops. The superiority of the varieties over the wild type or local varieties was demonstrated and the production technologies for both planting material as well as fruits were optimised. The increasing popularity of these varieties attracted industrial partners who expressed interest in commercializing the technologies. For licensing the propagation technologies and commercialization of these varieties ICAR-CIAH signed MoAs with industrial partners on its Foundation Day-cum-Industry Meet today. 

The ICAR-CIAH, Bikaner, and M/s Ambica Agro, Anand entered into an agreement for authorized mass multiplication of four varieties of Bael (GomaYashi, Thar Divya, Thar Neelkanth and Thar Srishti), Jamun (Goma Priyanka) and Chironji (TharPriya).

The exchange of MoAs was carried out in the virtual presence of Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary (DARE) and Director General (ICAR) and Dr. V B Patel, ADG (Fruit and Plantation Crops), and physical presence Dr S.K. Garg, Vice-Chancellor, RAJUVAS, Bikaner.

Dr Jagadish Rane, Director, ICAR-CIAH said the Central Horticultural Experiment Station, Vejalpur, Panchmahal has been conducting research work on underutilized fruit crops since 1979. Till now, 24 fruit crop varieties have been developed and recommended for commercial cultivation in arid and semi-arid regions. There is a huge demand for planting materials of these varieties across the country. Keeping in view the needs of stakeholders, these varieties were developed for traits specific for processing.

Dr. A. K. Singh, Head/Incharge, CHES, Vejalpur stated that these varieties were evaluated under rainfed hot semi-arid conditions. The Bael varieties Goma Yashi, Thar Divya; Jamun variety Goma Priyanka and Chironji variety Thar Priya have been released at the state level by State Variety Release sub-committee Gujarat State in 2021. These varieties have the potential to grow under abiotic stress conditions in arid and semi-arid regions. Planting materials of these varieties will be prepared as per the guidelines of Institute.

The non-exclusive License agreements for authorized multiplication of varieties of Jamuna, Bael and Chironji were granted to the firm for 7 years. This agreement is expected to reach benefit of technologies developed at ICAR-CIAH to the consumers and farmers rapidly.

(Source: ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner)