AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH STATION AHMAD WALA KARAK

About Us/ Introduction

The yield and quality are retarded due to environmental factors (terminal drought, heat, cold, moisture stress); agronomic factors (inadequate supply of fertilizer, quality seed, pesticides, fungicides and weedicides; traditional method of land preparation, seeding, weeding, sowing, harvesting, threshing, storing); biological factors like Ascochyta gram blight, Fusarium Wilt, Rhizoctonia root rot and insect pest like gram pod borer, Heliothus armigera and weeds Asphodelious spp., Xynthiams sp, Medicago sp. in the gram growing areas of the province.

To overcome these problems the Govt. of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has established Agricultural Research Sub-Station for (Gram and Pulses) in June, 1976 and Upgraded to Research Station in June, 1991 at the cost of Rs. 18.8 millions with 48 acres land.

The mission of Agricultural Research Station Ahmad Wala Karak is to meet the challenges made by environmental, agronomic and biological factors through constant and sustainable research to increase and improve the pulses production in the province in close collaboration with national and international centers like NIFA, NIAB, PARC, NARC, ICARDA and ICRISAT.

Official message from Head of Department

ARS Karak is keen to use available resources for the boosting of Economic level of farming community by developing of high yielding and disease resistance varieties of pulses. Innovation in the farming system of Barani area and to provide technical assistance to the growers of the area through field days, seminars, lectures, advisory conferences and technical bulletins.

Functions

Research Activities for evaluation of different local & exotic high production varieties for income generation of farming communities

Objectives

• To serve as Provincial Research Station to improve the genetic potential for grain yield and nutritional quality of Gram, Wheat, Mungbean, Mashbean, Lentil and Groundnut for the rain fed areas of the province. This includes;
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1. Collection and introduction of additional chickpea germplasm adapted to the different agro-ecological conditions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
2. Development of early maturing and high yielding varieties resistant to disease and insect pests and tolerant to cold, heat and moisture stresses.
3. Screening and identification of effective rhizobium strains and assessment of suitable inoculation techniques.
4. Development and standardization of production technology of agricultural   crops, especially pulses, to increase and stabilize the yield through better use of natural and human resources in the dry and tube well-irrigated lands of the province. This includes; date of sowing, seeding rates, row spacing, planting depths, intercropping, seed treatments and safe storage.
5. Transfer the production technologies of pulses, wheat and groundnut to the farming community, CBOs and extension workers through adaptive research trials on farmers’ fields, field days, print and electronic media.
6. Identification of differences among the lines in adaptation, regionally and internationally.

• To identify socio economic and other constraints to agricultural development in the semi arid tropics and to evaluate alternative means of alleviating them through technological and institutional changes.
• Production of pre-basic seed of pulses leading varieties.
• Strengthen linkages with the line departments in the district Govt. and NGOs.
• To increase and apply scientific knowledge of pulses with a view to increase their potential for production and ensuring its sound management.
• To assist national and regional research programs through cooperation and to contribute further by conferences, operating training programs and assisting extension activities.

Vision/ Future Plan

A dynamic outward looking research organization ready to meet client’s needs of the province and can face national and international challenges in the field of pulses.

Achievements

Over all achievements of this station are briefly summarized as follow:  

1. Released Eight (8) varieties of chickpea & one variety of Mungbean. The details are presented in the table below:

 In favourable weather circumstances, more than 10 tons of pre-basic seed of chickpea is produced every year to meet the demand of extension wing.

 Production technology for various pulses devised and disseminated through:

• Adaptive research trials
• Farmers’ trainings
• Print media (Posters and Pamphlets)
• Radio talks    
• Training of extension staff/ trainee field assistants    
• Introduction of chickpea on irrigated fields

Services Locators

Public Access to Govt.

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