Summer Agricultural Research Station, Kaghan
INTRODUCTION
Summer Agricultural Research Station, Kaghan, working under Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Islamabad is being administratively controlled by National Tea Research Institute, Shinkiari. It had been established during early seventies and is an internationally important station as a multi-cropped summer facility. The Agricultural Scientists all over the country, as well as from abroad turn up to conduct their Research Trials on different commodities, with diversify types of Research Materials, having notable achievements for the research system, leading towards the service & betterment of country & the nation as a whole. As far as its status is concerned, basically it was a Summer Wheat Nursery, then named as “Hill Agricultural Research Station”. After that named as “Hamalyan Agricultural Research Station”. Later on during the year 2009, the PARC has converted it in an independent research facility as “Summer Agricultural Research Station (SARS)”.
SARS Kaghan
LOCATION
The station is located at an ideal place. It is lying with Kaghan road on its Eastern & River Kunhar on its Western side, at a latitude of 38o 78’N and a longitude of 73o 57’N. Topographically it is sloppy in nature, with an elevation of 2,039 m (6,689 ft) above the sea level. There is a great scope for its development and beautification to further enhance its research achievements as well as physical outlook. The station comprises of:
• Total Area : 18.6 ha
• Area under crop, postures, trials etc : 15.7 ha
• Area under buildings/roads : 2.9 ha
CLIMATE
The range of maximum and minimum temperature is 15oC to -20oC (some times -23oC) respectively. However, snow remains in the surroundings from late October to March, while May and June are the rainy months, followed by monsoon like drizzle in July and August.
ATTRACTIVE FEATURE
The most attractive feature of the station is to raise off-season crops without a glass house. Taking benefit of these natural contributors i.e. favorable Agro-climatic conditions, nurseries of various crops are sown from the third week of May to the second week of June. These are timely harvested from the second week of September to the first week of October.
OBJECTIVES
Enhancing the breeding generations, by obtaining two crops in a year i.e. one trial at Kaghan in summer & the other in plainy areas of the country during winter.
Screening out the breeding material against diseases, especially the three types of rust.
Selection of breeding material for its winder adoptability.
Seed increase of the desirable material for its further extension.
MAJOR COMMODITIES INCLUDED IN RESEARCH PLAN
● Wheat ● Maize ● Barley ● Triticale ● Brassica ● Chickpea ● Lentil ● Beans
● Soybean ● Potatoes ● Fodder ● Vegetables ● Strawberry ● Fruit plants
ACTIVITIES AT SARS
Research material is screened for stripe, leaf & stem rusts, as well as, powdery mildew. On breeding side research trials are conducted to attain the desirable characters towards release of a promising variety. As soon as the crop reaches to heading stage, the crossing is conducted there on. When the crop matures, the final selections of desirable research material are made. The selected material is then harvested to be re-tested in the respective plainy areas of the country.
VISION
Ever-increasing population puts pressure for additional food production. To meet this need, on one hand the yield of the agricultural commodities is to be increased, while on the other hand, the crops must be free of disease and insects. In such a situation, the role of off-season nursery system has become essential. Therefore PARC has organized this facility in the interest of Agricultural Research system.
The off-season nursery system has undeniably demonstrated its very significant role in the faster production of improved varieties. It is a fundamental component in the development of crop varieties with wider adaptation.
These nurseries can be a unique vehicle for conveying promising advanced lines from national and international breeding programs. This practice will also be helpful to identify dangerous pathogens, which exist in different geographical zones of the world. In this way, the lines which are more resistant to the pathogens are developed as a variety for its further maximization.
RESOURCE PERSONS
Dr. Munir Ahmad, Member, PSD, PARC, Islamabad.
Dr. Farrukh Siyar Hamid, Director, NTRI, Shinkiari.
Mr. Noman, Scientific Officer, Summer Agricultural Research Station, Kaghan.
Mailing Address: Director NTRI, Shinkiari
NTRI: 0997-531570 SARS, Kaghan: 0997-420023
Fax 0997-530824 E-mail: ntri_parc@yahoo.com
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